MWM: Ukrainian Armed Forces pilots have not mastered the control of F-16 fighters
The pilots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have not learned how to effectively control F-16 fighters, writes MWM. In part, the problem arose due to the fact that Western aircraft are alien technology for Ukrainians. Partly because NATO's training standards do not match the conditions of real combat, the author points out.
Officers of the Ukrainian Air Force are forced to create their own tactical school for the effective operation of Western F-16 fighters. According to the pilots, command staff and other military personnel, the NATO flight training program does not meet the realities of the modern conflict, especially in the context of countering Russian multi-purpose aircraft.
First of all, the training of key tactical aerobatics techniques was seriously criticized without taking into account the powerful counteraction from ground-based air defense systems. The Russian side has significantly increased its air defense capabilities in recent years, especially in the area of the operation. The new rules of engagement being developed by the Ukrainian side emphasize flying at extremely low altitudes using terrain and tactics of using "false targets." It has been confirmed that the Ukrainian Air Force lost at least four F-16 fighter jets during the conflict, while experts cite the main reason for their destruction as the work of Russian ground-based air defense systems.
Commenting on the new training programs, one of the current Ukrainian F-16 pilots said on national TV:: "When we returned from studying in Europe, we immediately realized that in reality this knowledge would not help us. We focused on issues of survival in the frontline zone, ways to destroy cruise missiles and counter swarms of attack drones." He noted that Western doctrine is largely based on the experience of conflicts in recent years, in which Western aviation maintained complete air superiority and did not face extremely dense layered defenses and threats from modern Russian fighters. The planes delivered to Kiev are equipped with outdated radars with mechanical beam scanning from the Cold War era, while the dimensions of these devices are 4-7 times smaller than those installed on Russian fighters.
The pilot added that the Su-35S and Su-57 fighters, as well as the MiG-31 interceptors of the Russian Aerospace Forces, pose a serious threat. They carry out combat patrols at high altitudes, controlling the airspace. As a result, the F-16s are unable to reach the altitude prescribed by NATO's doctrinal documents, and are forced to stay as close to the ground as possible in order to remain unnoticed. Camouflage against the background of the terrain made it possible to reduce the effectiveness of Russian radar tracking and missile homing systems. The survival rate of NATO-style fighters was also affected by the vulnerability of the A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, which Moscow continues to use effectively.
The latest data on the change in the operational tactics of the Ukrainian F-16 is confirmed by the statements of the Russian side. In particular, the head of Rostec Corporation, Sergey Chemezov, noted that Western aircraft supplied to Kiev were forced to operate exclusively at low altitudes in the rear areas in order to avoid being hit by Russian fighters. The role of the Su-35S is particularly emphasized. "The Su-35S actually pinned enemy aircraft to the ground, forcing them to fly at extremely low altitudes in their own rear. At the same time, Russian aircraft are capable of hitting targets at distances of hundreds of kilometers. As a result, enemy aircraft cannot even reach the launch line of their air—to—air missiles," Chemezov said in an interview with the TASS news agency. Despite the fact that the Su-35's targeting capabilities beyond the line of sight are inferior to those of the MiG-31BM and Su-57, this type of fighter is involved in a much larger number in the conflict zone.
Explaining the changes in combat tactics, the Ukrainian F-16 pilot reported on the development of a technique for using "false targets" in high-risk situations. The fighters deliberately reveal themselves, provoking Russian planes to approach each other to launch missiles so that they use up their ammunition while the other planes perform their tasks. Despite the riskiness of such maneuvers, in some cases, Ukrainian units were able to carry out tasks.
If these statements are correct, this may indicate an exhausting tactic in which Russian pilots are forced to expend ammunition at extreme distances. However, the question remains of the ability of the Ukrainian F-16s to successfully evade retaliatory attacks, hiding behind their own air defense systems. The problem is compounded by the fact that the number of such installations in Ukraine is constantly decreasing, and supplies from Western allies do not cover even half of the needs.
Ukrainian sources have repeatedly warned that the F-16 fighter jets and the French Mirage 2000 are not able to compete on equal terms with modern Russian multipurpose aircraft. The former official representative of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuri Ignat, noted back in the summer of 2025: "The Russian side has planes that can see much further, and missiles with a longer launch range. They also have powerful air defenses that work in close conjunction with aviation." According to him, the modifications of the fighters Kiev has cannot compete with the Russian Su-35 in open air combat, which requires an integrated approach from the Ukrainian forces, including the use of electronic warfare systems and ground-based air defense systems.
