While the F-16’s arrival elevated Ukraine’s aerial abilities, it has not turned the tide of the war.
While Ukrainian officials had hoped that a contingent of American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters would give its forces an aerial advantage over Russia, it appears these jets are largely being deployed in defensive roles. Instead of using its F-16s to strike targets within enemy territory, these fighters have primarily seen success in taking out Russian cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In fact, the few reported offensive operations carried out with Ukraine’s Fighting Falcon fleet have not performed as expected.
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Air Force “lost contact” with one of these jets during an operation to repel a Russian air attack. According to the Kyiv Independent, an emergency situation onboard led to the pilot’s ejection. While the pilot survived the incident, previous F-16 mishaps ended in tragedy. In August 2024, Ukrainian pilot Oleksii Mes was killed following the crash of his F-16. This April, a second pilot, Pavlo Ivanov, perished when his F-16 went down while conducting an unspecified combat mission. According to Ukrainian sources, Mes was able to shoot down three Russian cruise missiles prior to the crash and Ivanov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. “For personal courage and heroism, demonstrated in the protection of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I decree to award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the ‘Golden Star’ order to Ivanov Pavlo Ivanovych,” the official statement from the office of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy read.
When Did Kyiv Acquire F-16s?
Kyiv has frequently requested the delivery of F-16 jets from the United States and its NATO allies ever since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine back in February 2022. After the former Biden White House gave Ukraine the green light to acquire these fourth-generation jets, Denmark and the Netherlands were the first nations to confirm they would offer training for its pilots. When the Fighting Falcon was first introduced to service during the Cold War, it was considered to be unparalleled in the skies. From their superior combat radius, lethal ordnance load, and prowess in the air, the F-16s are well deserving of their reputation as the gold standard of fourth-gen aircraft. Over the years, the Fighting Falcon has undergone several facelifts in order to retain an edge over newer fighters. The latest F-16 variants are equipped with an array of cutting-edge systems and capabilities, including an active electronically scanned array radar capable of tracking up to twenty targets at the same time.
While the arrival of F-16s certainly elevated Ukraine’s aerial abilities, which were limited by its fleet of Soviet-era aircraft, the platform’s arrival has not turned the tide of the war. In fact, a high-ranking Ukrainian official said the arrival of these fighter jets was too little, too late. Earlier this month, a temporary ceasefire appeared to be in the works. However, Russia’s recent missile and drone barrage targeting civilian population centers in Ukraine suggests there is currently no end in sight for the three-year-long war.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Soos Jozsef / Shutterstock.com
