File image.
The Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) acknowledged on May 16 that it had lost yet another American-made F-16 fighter jet during a combat mission.
The air control center first lost communication with the pilot early in the morning, the press service of the air force said in a post to Telegram.
When an “emergency situation” developed on the plane, the pilot “successfully maneuvered the jet away from populated areas and ejected safely,” it added, noting that the pilot was quickly located and evacuated, and his condition was reported as stable.
An official commission has been established to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident, and its work is already underway, according to the air force.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the incident. However, according to military monitoring channels on Telegram, Ukraine was under a large-scale Russian drone attack early in the morning when the fighter jet was lost.
Ukraine received the first batch of F-16s just last July. Ten such fighter jets have so far been delivered to the country out of a total of 85 pledged by Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. All jets are from the older Block 15 model, although they received the Mid-Life Update.
Including the last loss, at least three of the UAF’s F-16s have been already confirmed to be destroyed. Russian S-400 long-range air defense systems and R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles – typically launched from MiG-31, Su-35 or Su-57 fighter jets – were blamed for the previous two losses.
The F-16 was touted by the mainstream media in the West as a game changer, and even a “Wunderwaffe”. Yet, the fighter jets have so far done nearly nothing of value for the UAF, which continues to rely more on its aging Soviet-made fighter jets.
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why to waste time and money in such istanbul circus? the conflict will be solved on the battlefield. period.
not to worry, american taxpayers will be forced to pay for a replacement. all is well.
american taxpayers don’t pay for f-16s. the rest of the dollar-controlled world pays. us taxpayers haven’t been able to pay for anything for fifty years, which is why the us debt is $36 trillion.
putin out played erdogan and offer him clear chance.but the double tongue snake miscalculate and instead of resolve wrongly guide zelenski with wrong arrogant advice.
the miraculous old flying coffin died of old age.
these things die at any age, that’s why the pilots used to call them ‘lawn darts’…..
together with the f16s lost during airfield bombings my count is around 10 widowmakers destroyed until now🤫🎹🤫
all of them have been shot down by the true ghost pilot which is the su 57 armed with r-77m and r-37m…