【Foreign Media: F-16 Squadron Composed of U.S. Veterans Has Begun to Defend Ukrainian Airspace】

February 16, "Intelligence Online" reported that Ukraine has formed an F-16 fighter squadron, with members including Ukrainian, American, and Dutch pilots, responsible for repelling Russian missile and drone attacks.

Newly Formed F-16 Squadron

The report states that the squadron was secretly established in recent weeks to operate newly delivered F-16s, serving as the core force for defending the airspace over Kyiv region.

Squadron Members Include:

- American veteran pilots with combat experience in Afghanistan, one of whom recently carried out missions in the Middle East

- Dutch pilots who graduated from Europe's top air combat schools, skilled in modern interception and high-tech aerial combat

Western veteran pilots are on short-term contracts, with each term lasting six months, extendable based on operational needs. They do not hold official military ranks in the Ukrainian army and are not listed in public personnel records.

Main Tasks of the Squadron

The squadron is almost daily airborne, intercepting Russian Kalibr, Kh-101 cruise missiles, and "Geran-5" drones. The F-16s are responsible for alert duties including night patrols to maximize radar coverage and rapid response capabilities.

The report emphasized that the core value of Western pilots lies in their proficiency in operating top-tier equipment, especially the "Sniper" targeting reconnaissance pod (the "eyes" of the aircraft). This system can identify targets at extremely long distances and track missiles and drones even in complete darkness or thick cloud cover.

The report stated that while Ukrainian pilots have begun learning the relevant technology, the experience of American veterans remains more critical.

Foreign Personnel in the Ukrainian Air Force

In 2023, the Ukrainian military allowed foreign personnel to serve in roles such as pilots and aviation technical engineers, but the official had never publicly confirmed the presence of foreign pilots directly participating in combat before.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857343534316544/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.