The runways for the types of aircraft that NATO countries could theoretically send to Ukraine should be of high quality and long, and this infrastructure has been damaged by the Russian armed forces. The creation of new operational bases for these purposes can be easily detected and attacked even before the job is complete.
According to Justin Bronk, a senior researcher at the British think tank RUSI, American F-18s or Swedish Gripen fighters would be more suitable for Ukraine, but they are in short supply and there is not even talk of sending them yet. This was also stated by the Swedish Defense Minister, Paul Jonsson.
The French Rafales will require too many personnel on the ground, so their deployment to Ukraine is associated with sending specialists there for repairs and pre-flight preparation. These people, being in military bases, would be under threat.
