Ukrainian pilots lack experience. The F-16s provided to Ukraine are vulnerable to Russian air defense systems – WSJ

The F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine are vulnerable to the Russian air defense system, and Ukrainian pilots lack sufficient experience in operating them.

This was reported by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal.

The publication notes that Kyiv had hoped that Western combat aircraft would give Ukraine an advantage on the battlefield. However, many of the F-16 fighters received by the Ukrainian Armed Forces are “used” and have been in service for decades.

Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine lost its first F-16, and according to a statement by MP Bezuhla, it was shot down by a Ukrainian Patriot missile.

At the same time, the U.S. Department of Defense cannot confirm that the F-16 fighter jet provided to Ukraine was shot down by a Ukrainian Patriot surface-to-air missile system.

According to media reports, the American F-16 fighter lost by Ukraine was piloted by Lutsk pilot Oleksiy Mes. The General Staff confirmed Ukraine’s loss of its first F-16. This occurred during the repulsion of a massive Russian strike.