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Zorro

(16,237 posts) Thu Aug 29, 2024, 10:40 AM Aug 29

U.S.-Made F-16 Jet Fighter Crashes in Ukraine

Source: Wall Street Journal

A Ukrainian F-16 jet fighter was destroyed in a crash on Monday, according to a U.S. official, just weeks after the first of the American-made aircraft arrived in Ukraine.

Initial reports indicate the jet wasn’t shot down by enemy fire, although the incident occurred during a massive Russian missile barrage across the country on Monday, the official said. Rather, the crash was likely a result of pilot error.

Ukraine used the jets for the first time in combat to shoot down Russian missiles during the strikes this week, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Ukrainian Air Force wouldn’t confirm the crash or the status of the pilot. The Pentagon referred questions to the Ukrainian Air Force for comment.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/world/ukrainian-f-16-is-destroyed-in-crash-4f6d66f6?st=lghcmwe55zst7us&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

7 replies

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U.S.-Made F-16 Jet Fighter Crashes in Ukraine (Original Post) Zorro Aug 29 OP

The west will get them another one or 5. Botany Aug 29 #1

This is sad. But the training time Ukrainian pilots got on these craft wouldn't compare to our pilots' training Bucky Aug 29 #2

These are better jets, not perfect jets.... getagrip_already Aug 29 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Aug 29 #4

Trial and error ColinC Aug 29 #5

Training for Ukrainian pilots should have started shortly after Putin's illegal invasion. Lonestarblue Aug 29 #6

They're getting more planes as countries upgrade to the F-35 Warpy Aug 29 #7

Botany

(72,282 posts)

1. The west will get them another one or 5.

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Aug 29, 2024, 10:44 AM

Aug 29

N/t

Bucky

(55,334 posts)

2. This is sad. But the training time Ukrainian pilots got on these craft wouldn't compare to our pilots' training

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Aug 29, 2024, 10:47 AM

Aug 29

Rushed jobs with complicated dangerous equipment will inevitably lead to accidents.

getagrip_already

(17,182 posts)

3. These are better jets, not perfect jets....

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Aug 29, 2024, 10:50 AM

Aug 29

Some will be lost to manpads, aa missiles, mechanical issues, and pilot error. Even direct fire can bring them down.

But it is not the jets fault. War destroys equipment of all kinds.

Expect losses.

Response to Zorro (Original post)

Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.

ColinC

(10,408 posts)

5. Trial and error

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Aug 29, 2024, 11:30 AM

Aug 29

They’re getting used to them

Lonestarblue

(11,558 posts)

6. Training for Ukrainian pilots should have started shortly after Putin's illegal invasion.

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Aug 29, 2024, 11:31 AM

Aug 29

The US and NATO have supplied weapons but put conditions on their use that tied Ukrainians’ hands.

Warpy

(113,093 posts)

7. They're getting more planes as countries upgrade to the F-35

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Thu Aug 29, 2024, 02:59 PM

Aug 29

Pilot error or not, I have to hope the crew ejected in time, the article didn't mention it. The plane will be replaced. Getting new crews takes a lot of time.

These are expected to crash once in a while, and even to be shot down by Russia's primitive air defense. They have been effective in shooting down incoming Russian missiles and drones. Soon they'll move on to Russian planes loaded with glide bombs, the main reason Ukraine needed them so badly.

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