WSJ: The F-16 crash that claimed pilot Mess's life occurred because the U.S. failed to provide enemy recognition technology.
She wrote about this in her column.
Melchior refers to a Ukrainian deputy (likely referring to Marianna Bezuha, who is further quoted in the material) and other sources that stated the F-16s were shot down by "friendly fire." This occurred because the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden did not provide the Ukrainians with technology that helps ground-based air defense distinguish friend from foe.
The U.S. and its European allies utilize a tactical network called Link 16. This system allows for real-time visibility of all network participants—aircraft, ground units, ground-based air defense systems, and command structures.
The WSJ columnist notes that Link 16 also reduces risks for pilots operating in airspace where enemy missiles and drones are present, as their ground-based counterparts can identify their aircraft.
According to Ukrainian activist and journalist, as well as co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory, Daria Kaleniuk, whom Melchior also cites, when the F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine, neither they nor the Patriot systems were equipped with Link 16.
She explains that Link 16 was removed from the "Patriots" for Ukraine "because no one [was] planning or expecting that Ukraine would receive F-16s in the near future." When this did happen, the identification technology was not reinstated in the equipment sent to Ukraine, although efforts are currently being made to rectify this, according to anonymous sources cited by the columnist.
She suggests that the U.S. intentionally withheld Link 16 out of caution, fearing Moscow's response to a potential escalation under the Biden administration.
It should be noted that as early as September of last year, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Alexander Syrskiy, stated that the results of the investigation into the aviation disaster would be known soon.
Meanwhile, journalists from Breaking Defense, citing sources in Ukraine, reported that one of the scenarios being discussed in the Ukrainian defense community regarding the F-16 crash is that the aircraft accidentally flew through a debris cloud after successfully intercepting and destroying one of the Russian missiles.
F-16 Crash
On August 29, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the loss of an F-16 fighter. They stated that the American fighters demonstrated their effectiveness by shooting down four cruise missiles on August 26.
However, during the approach to a target, communication was lost with one of the aircraft. It later became clear that the plane had crashed, and the pilot was killed. According to the Air Forces, on that day, while destroying three cruise missiles and one strike drone, pilot Alexey Mes was killed.
A special commission from the Ministry of Defense is working in the crash area to determine the causes of the accident. Nikolai Oleschuk, who was then heading the Air Forces of Ukraine, wrote that partners from the U.S. had also already joined the investigation into its causes.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 30 dismissed Lieutenant General Nikolai Oleschuk from his position as commander of the Air Forces of Ukraine.
Zelensky commented on his decision by stating that "at the command level, we must strengthen and protect people, protect the personnel."
Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko was appointed as the acting commander of the Air Forces of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that Nikolai Oleschuk's dismissal from the position of commander of the Air Forces of Ukraine is not related to the F-16 crash.