Ukraine loses first F‑16 in defensive mission: Possible pilot error
Ukraine has lost its first F-16 aircraft. The cause of the aircraft loss and the death of the experienced pilot was not—most likely—a shootdown by the Russians. Experts suggest a possible pilot error while highlighting the exceptionally difficult conditions in which Ukrainian aviators are forced to fight.
The initial information about the Ukrainian loss appeared in the public domain on Monday when the Mayor of Lutsk reported the death of pilot Oleksiy Mes from the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade.
According to Defence24, Mes was a pilot who had previously flown MiG-29s and was part of the first group trained on the F-16. His death at the controls of an F-16 was later confirmed by American media, citing sources within the American administration and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
F-16s in defense of Ukraine
The cause of the pilot's death and the loss of the aircraft was not—most likely—a shootdown by the Russians (Ukrainian sources have a different opinion on this). Instead, it was attributed to a pilot error.
During his last flight, Oleksiy Mes repelled a strong Russian attack involving various drones, missiles, and cruise missiles.
The F-16 aircraft provided by the West play a crucial role in directly supporting the country's air defense and relieving ground-based systems by combating targets such as cruise missiles. Mes was reported to have destroyed one of the attacking drones and three cruise missiles.
Possible causes of the F-16 loss
As noted by Jakub Palowski from Defence24, the loss of the aircraft and the pilot’s death are likely due to several factors. One factor is the shortened training period for Ukrainian pilots, who have only undergone a few months instead of receiving up to two years of training like American pilots.
Another contributing factor is the nature of the combat. Ukrainian pilots currently lack weapons that would allow them to engage in long-distance fights at ranges of about 100-124 miles. This makes them vulnerable to attacks from aircraft such as the Russian MiG-31.
This situation necessitates a specific operational strategy, increasing the risk of losing aircraft due to lower flight altitudes enforced by constant threats. The Russian advantage in this area is partially mitigated by the ECIPS/CJS electronic warfare pods provided with the F-16s, which make it more difficult to destroy these valuable machines.
