One of the hypotheses being evaluated is the possibility that the plane was hit by “friendly fire” due to a lack of coordination.
The forces of Ukraine they lost the first of F-16 which their Western allies provided them at the beginning of August.
The cancellation of the American-made aircraft took place on Monday 26th of this month and also involved the death of the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksiy Mes .
The episode is positioned as an intense blow for the nation of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, The president has consistently called for economic aid programs and military to NATO member countries.
In this sense, the arrival of the first batch of F-16 aircraft intended for its troops an approach to Western combat systems and a key element in countering the offensive from the Kremlin.
However, various military analysts have suggested that Receiving the samples is unlikely to make an immediate difference during the conflict.
It is still a question fundamental support for your defensive tasks .
Compared to the Soviet-era aircraft fleet used by Ukraine, The F-16 has more advanced features .
The latter situation also poses challenges since, as President Zelensky himself suggested, They do not have the number of pilots and personnel necessary to be able to operate these aircraft optimally. .
This is precisely why a small group of its troops received training in Alliance countries such as Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The destruction of the first F-16 and the death of the Ukrainian pilot This happened in the context of an air attack carried out by Russia .
As saved by New York Times , The plane was lost as air defenses attempted to intercept more than 200 missiles and drones .
F-16s took part in the operation and, according to Ukrainian authorities, They were able to “demonstrate their great effectiveness” .
However, they also reported that “communication with one of the aircraft had been lost,” until “It was later determined that it had crashed and the pilot had died.” .
From the Ukrainian army they assured that An investigation has been opened to determine the causes of the accident. reported the Wall Street Journal Thursday of this week.
Already Friday the 30th, President Zelensky has dismissed the head of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk just a few days after the episode.
Although at the time he did not comment on the precise reasons for his decision, he nevertheless said that It is necessary to strengthen Ukraine’s military leadership .
“We have to become stronger,” he said. “And we have to take care of the people, the personnel, all our soldiers.” .
Although the causes of the accident have not yet been officially reported, There are three versions of what happened that authorities are said to be evaluating .
1. “Friendly fire” from your air defenses
A Western official familiar with the preliminary investigation said: There are “indications” that the plane may have been shot down by friendly fire. saved the Big Apple newspaper.
This is believed to have come from a Patriot missile battery. a system that was provided to them by the United States and was widely used for their defense strategies.
It is assumed that in the midst of operations to counter the Russian air offensive, One of the projectiles could have hit the F-16 due to lack of coordination .
The senior advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Mark Cancian told the Times that the likelihood of such situations occurring is particularly high in the event of massive missile and drone attacks .
This is because “it is It’s hard to know who is good and who is bad. especially when projectiles are flying at the same time.
“Fratricide is a huge problem” added the specialist.
2. Pilot error
It is also suggested that the pilot may have encountered difficulties in the practical handling of the aircraft .
It is good to remember that F-16s have more complex systems than Soviet-era aircraft which Ukrainian forces have been using since the beginning of the war.
This includes both its variety of weapons and its advanced radar systems .
Actually, It is not uncommon for fighter jets to crash even in training missions, analysts told the aforementioned media outlets.
The senior member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Ben Barry, clarified in this sense that “Flying these aircraft is a very high-risk activity” .
Previously, a report from the CSIS published in mid-2024 specified that “It will take years before the Ukrainian Air Force has enough experience to effectively perform combat missions” .
Despite the above, they stressed that “If equipped with the appropriate air-to-ground munitions, it can quickly execute long-range attacks. (air ban).
“Training a competent F-16 pilot takes a long time . For example, the USAF fighter pilot training program, from initial flight training to certification as a combat-qualified squadron pilot, spans three to four years.
In addition, “the total duration of the training is extended at four or five years taking into account the leadership training essential for the execution of tactical combat training.
“While Ukrainian fighter pilots already possess basic flight skills, adapting to an aircraft with a fundamentally different cockpit interface and instrument layout, designed around a different concept of human factors engineering, requires an alternative way of thinking “.
In this sense, CSIS experts emphasize: “This reality means that experienced fighter pilots will also need time for an effective transition. In addition, Your experience flying Soviet-era fighter jets will not necessarily translate into the controls and design of electric flight of the F-16 ″.
3. Mechanical failure
The third hypothesis considered is the possibility that a technical problem occurred on the aircraft a Western official said after the crash.
Until Tuesday, September 3, the Ukrainian authorities They have not determined what were the causes that led to the loss of the F-16 and the death of the pilot.
As they stated, They are working on an investigation in collaboration with the United States. .
In the meantime, His troops are continuing the cross-border military incursion that began on August 6 in the Kursk region.
At the same time, They continue to resist the Russian offensive to prevent their forces from advancing to the front from territories they may have already occupied.
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
