F-16 Fighting Falcon News

February 16, 2025 (by Lieven Dewitte) - According to The Wall Street Journal, the August F-16 crash that claimed the life of Oleksiy ‘Moonfish’ Mes might have been prevented if the U.S. had provided a critical tactical system.
The Wall Street Journal has published a column on the likely cause of the F-16 crash that killed pilot Oleksii Mes on August 26, 2024. According to the report, the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by a Patriot air defense system.

Sources suggest the incident may have occurred because the American-supplied equipment had been modified before deployment, with one key recognition system removed. The Link 16 tactical network, which enhances situational awareness by integrating aircraft, ground units, air defenses, and command centers in real time, was not in place. This system improves coordination among allies and reduces risks for pilots.

Ukraine received its first Patriot air defense systems in April 2023. WSJ cites Dariia Kaleniuk, co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, as saying that the Patriots were disconnected from Link 16 because Ukraine was not initially expected to receive F-16s. When the decision was later made to supply the jets, the issue remained unresolved.

The article suggests that the U.S. may have withheld Link 16 due to concerns over security, reflecting what it describes as the Biden administration’s cautious approach to military aid for Ukraine.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the specific configuration of weapons provided to Ukraine, directing inquiries to Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, sources indicate that efforts are being made to address the issue, though no further details were disclosed.