Ukrainian F-16 shot down by allied forces, WSJ reports
According to a column in the outlet, Read Full Article at RT.com, the former US administration in Washington restricted access to essential network technology.
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The crash may have been due to a lack of coordination between ground and air forces, an editor at the outlet has claimed.
Ukraine may have accidentally shot down one of its own F-16 fighter jets as a result of the Biden administration’s choice to withhold essential coordination technology, according to a column by a member of The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board published on Friday.
The incident, which occurred in late August, resulted in the death of Ukrainian pilot Aleksey Mes, 30, who had recently completed training in Denmark. At the time, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that an F-16 had crashed while countering a Russian missile attack. There was no response from Moscow regarding the event, and an investigation is currently underway.
Columnist Jillian Kay Melchior suggested that the crash likely involved friendly fire related to Ukraine’s western-supplied Patriot air defense system, referencing a Ukrainian lawmaker and other sources who requested anonymity.
The initial claim of friendly fire was made days after the crash by Ukrainian lawmaker Maryana Bezuglaya. Melchior noted that a source with direct knowledge of the investigation indicated that evidence at the crash site implied the jet was downed by a missile.
Melchior stated that the Biden administration had withheld the Link 16 tactical network, which is crucial for ground-based air defense systems in identifying friendly versus enemy aircraft. This technology, which offers real-time situational awareness by linking all network participants, including aircraft, ground forces, and air defense units, was not available on either Ukraine’s F-16s or its Patriot systems when they were delivered in mid-2024.
"Link 16 is such a vital and sensitive tool that the US might have been reluctant to provide it – in keeping with the abundance of caution that characterized the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy," Melchior wrote.
Despite being one of Ukraine's primary military supporters, the US has frequently delayed the delivery of advanced weaponry due to concerns about escalating tensions with Russia. Initially, Washington was hesitant to supply long-range missiles, advanced air defense systems, and fighter jets, ultimately approving transfers only after prolonged discussions.
The F-16s, supplied to Kyiv by Denmark and the Netherlands, were viewed as potential game-changers. However, their effectiveness has been hampered by outdated radar systems and the absence of Link 16. To date, Ukraine has received fewer than 20 F-16s, and the August crash marked the first reported loss of one of these aircraft.
Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that F-16s would not alter the battlefield dynamics. He cautioned that if the jets were deployed against Russia from airfields in third countries, Moscow would regard them as legitimate targets for military action.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ukraine may have accidentally shot down one of its own F-16 fighter jets as a result of the Biden administration’s choice to withhold essential coordination technology, according to a column by a member of The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board published on Friday.
The incident, which occurred in late August, resulted in the death of Ukrainian pilot Aleksey Mes, 30, who had recently completed training in Denmark. At the time, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that an F-16 had crashed while countering a Russian missile attack. There was no response from Moscow regarding the event, and an investigation is currently underway.
Columnist Jillian Kay Melchior suggested that the crash likely involved friendly fire related to Ukraine’s western-supplied Patriot air defense system, referencing a Ukrainian lawmaker and other sources who requested anonymity.
The initial claim of friendly fire was made days after the crash by Ukrainian lawmaker Maryana Bezuglaya. Melchior noted that a source with direct knowledge of the investigation indicated that evidence at the crash site implied the jet was downed by a missile.
Melchior stated that the Biden administration had withheld the Link 16 tactical network, which is crucial for ground-based air defense systems in identifying friendly versus enemy aircraft. This technology, which offers real-time situational awareness by linking all network participants, including aircraft, ground forces, and air defense units, was not available on either Ukraine’s F-16s or its Patriot systems when they were delivered in mid-2024.
"Link 16 is such a vital and sensitive tool that the US might have been reluctant to provide it – in keeping with the abundance of caution that characterized the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy," Melchior wrote.
Despite being one of Ukraine's primary military supporters, the US has frequently delayed the delivery of advanced weaponry due to concerns about escalating tensions with Russia. Initially, Washington was hesitant to supply long-range missiles, advanced air defense systems, and fighter jets, ultimately approving transfers only after prolonged discussions.
The F-16s, supplied to Kyiv by Denmark and the Netherlands, were viewed as potential game-changers. However, their effectiveness has been hampered by outdated radar systems and the absence of Link 16. To date, Ukraine has received fewer than 20 F-16s, and the August crash marked the first reported loss of one of these aircraft.
Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that F-16s would not alter the battlefield dynamics. He cautioned that if the jets were deployed against Russia from airfields in third countries, Moscow would regard them as legitimate targets for military action.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
