The US sent six F-16s to Ukraine. A Ukrainian pilot reportedly just crashed one of them. What happened?
The Wall Street Journal comments on the Crash of an F-16 in Ukraine.
A Ukrainian pilot was killed in combat when his F-16 jet fighter crashed Monday, just weeks after the first of the American-made aircraft arrived in Ukraine, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
The pilot, Oleksiy Mes, died while helping to repel a massive Russian missile attack on Monday, the officials said. Initial reports indicate the jet wasn’t shot down by enemy fire, U.S. officials said.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Mes, was killed in combat while helping repel the missile attack Monday. The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said contact had been lost with the jet while it was approaching its next target.
A person close to the Ukrainian military said the cause of the crash was unknown and an investigation was under way. The person described Mes as a hero who successfully shot down multiple Russian missiles on Monday before the crash.
The news that one of Ukraine’s few F-16s has been destroyed, and one of its most well-known pilots killed, is a major blow to Kyiv, which had pleaded for the jets for months before President Biden gave the green light for European countries to transfer the aircraft last year.
Kyiv hopes the advanced Western aircraft will give its forces an edge on the battlefield, particularly to shoot down incoming Russian missiles and help protect troops on the front lines. But the F-16s, many of which are secondhand and have decades of flying time already, are vulnerable to Russian air defense missiles and present a high-value target for Moscow’s forces.
U.S. officials also have warned about the dangers of sending pilots inexperienced on F-16s into combat. While Mes and other Ukrainian pilots now flying the F-16 are skilled in flying Soviet jets against the Russians, they went through an accelerated training course to learn to operate the American jets.
A newly minted American F-16 pilot typically wouldn’t fly in combat for many months after completing their training, spending additional time flying in-country with their unit.
A second U.S. official noted that the training curriculum for Ukrainian F-16s was “not standard,” noting that the program was focused on specific missions they would likely face in combat. “There’s still, very frankly, risk there,” the official said.
Questions of the Day
- How does a pilot crash a jet out of the blue?
- If the jet was shot down, then was it friendly fire or enemy fire?
- Either way, would a skilled U.S.-pilot have avoided being shot down?
- Was there a mechanical failure?
- Heart attack or other medical issue?
I struggle to accept option number one, even if training is the issue.
Nonetheless, assume option number one is true. What does that say given Mes was one of Ukraine’s best-trained pilots?
If option number one is false, then we are left with options 2, 3, or serious mechanical or physical failure.
If the issue was a mechanical error, would a skilled U.S.-pilot have avoided a crash, ejected?
Anything other than option five poses further complications for someone.
What Really Happened?
We don’t have the full story here, and perhaps never will because Ukraine suppresses death tolls and exaggerates Russian losses.
Of course, Russia does the same. And the US might not want to cover up the details as well.
Germany to Eliminate “New” Aid
On August 19, I reported Nord Stream Pipeline Blowback: Germany to Stop All New Aid to Ukraine
Some said my post was wrong because Germany is not halting aid.
This is despite the fact my title and the body said “new” but without the quotes.
Reduced Aid to Ukraine
Eurointelligence reported today “Poland following Germany to cut aid to Ukraine.”
I have no details. That is paywalled.
But Germany is cutting off new aid. Poland is about to do the same. This is despite the fact that Poland shares a border with both Ukraine and Russia.
France is ungovernable and in the midst of its own budget crisis. So rule out France for more aid.
Wall Street Journal Wants the US to Escalate the War
Yesterday, thew WSJ editorial board commented ATACMS and Russia’s Sanctuary
Weapons scarcity is another reason Ukraine needs ATACMS to strike Russian targets. It’s a more efficient use of resources to take out threats at their origin rather than trying to intercept each incoming strike, as Ukraine is currently forced to do.
The Biden Administration fears Mr. Putin might escalate his war if Ukraine puts more of his military at risk, but the war isn’t winding down. [Seems like a legitimate fear to me.]
The U.S. can strengthen Ukraine’s position and make negotiations to end the war more likely by removing the restrictions that preserve Russia’s sanctuary.
The editorial board wants the US to send more missiles to Ukraine and for Ukraine to launch them at Russia.
Then the Journal will bitch about rising US deficits and tax hikes to pay for them.
Presumably, Russia will just let this happen and not resort to a “limited” nuclear attack in response.
Ukraine is increasingly dependent on US, about 5,600 mile away.
What’s next: US secret pilots? Nuclear war?
It’s easy to discount both of them as very unlikely. But every escalation makes them increasingly likely, even if the odds are small.
Shame, Shame
Shame on the US for causing this entire mess. It started with US involvement in 2014.
However, I do not approve of Russia’s actions. So shame on Russia. But the US knew Russia’s red lines and ignored them.
Shame on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for telling Zelensky not to take a Peace Deal shortly after the invasion. Johnson pressured Kyiv into continuing the fight. David Arahamiya, the leader of Ukraine’s ruling party confirmed in an interview.
Finally, shame on Zelensky for not accepting a good deal when he had one.
Yeah, there is plenty of shame!
Negotiated Settlement
This war will end the way I suggested at the beginning: a negotiated settlement with Russia holding Crimea and parts of what is now Eastern Ukraine.
The only questions that remain are:
How many more deaths will it take, how much more US aid goes up in smoke, and whether or not escalations get out of hand triggering a major catastrophe.