The challenges facing Ukraine's F‑16 pilots in high-stakes combat

Ukraine lost the first of the F-16 aircraft provided to it. The cause of the loss of the aircraft and the death of the experienced pilot was not likely a shootdown by the Russians. Experts suggest a possible pilot error, highlighting the exceptionally difficult conditions in which Ukrainian aviators are forced to operate.

The initial information about the Ukrainian loss surfaced 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 he was part of the first group trained on the F-16. The American media later confirmed the death of the pilot at the controls of an F-16, citing sources within the American administration and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The cause of the pilot's death and the loss of the aircraft was not likely a shootdown by the Russians, though Ukrainian sources have a different opinion on this. A pilot error is considered more probable.

During his last flight, Oleksiy Mes was involved in repelling a significant Russian attack, which included various types of drones, missiles, and cruise missiles.

As per our earlier assumptions, the F-16 aircraft provided by the West were assigned such a role. One of their tasks is directly supporting the country's air defence and relieving ground-based systems by combating targets that the aircraft can destroy, such as cruise missiles. Oleksiy Mes was reported to have destroyed one of the attacking drones and three cruise missiles.

Jakub Palowski from Defence24 noted that the loss of the aircraft and the pilot’s death in the crash are likely due to several factors. One of them is the shortened training period for Ukrainian pilots, who, instead of receiving up to two years of training like American pilots, have only undergone a few months.

Another factor contributing to crashes is the nature of the combat – Ukrainian pilots currently do not have weapons that would allow them to engage in long-distance fights at ranges of about 160-200 kilometres from which they can be attacked, among others, by Russian MiG-31 aircraft.

This necessitates a specific strategy of operations, increasing the risk of losing the 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.