The russian propagandist Telegram channel Voennyi Osvedomitel [War Informer] (almost 600,000 subscribers) complained that the pilots of the F-16 fighter jets handed over to Ukraine received equipment that russian pilots do not have.
This is evidenced by the channel's messages.
In the first post, the author noted that Ukrainian F-16 pilots received JHMCS (Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System) helmet sights.
This system is not just a targeting system, it also has an indication function that replaces the indicators on the windshield inside the cockpit.
This is what the windshield looks like with indicators in the cockpit of the F/A-18 Hornet carrier-based fighter-bomber. Photo: wikimedia.org
At the same time, the main feature of the JHMCS is that it allows the pilot to fire where his eyes are directed, regardless of the direction of the helmet.
"In russia, there are simply no helmets of this level in the series, for the MiG-29K/KUB of the russian Navy, for example, at one time the French NSC Thales TopSight were ordered, but the fleet never received them," write russian propagandists.
They noted that the first russian samples of such systems are just undergoing testing. It is planned that they will be implemented on Mi-28NM attack helicopters and Su-57 fighters.
While this system is absent, russian pilots have to use a simple monocle, which the aggressor country copied from the Ukrainian "Sura".
At the same time, propagandists emphasized that even these systems had not been seen by russian pilots since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Photo: screenshot
It should be noted that helmets with the JHMCS system are not the only interesting thing that Ukraine received with the arrival of the first F-16 fighters.
Military expert Agil Rustamadze pointed out in his Telegram channel that Ukrainian F-16s are equipped with the latest electronic combat integrated pylon system plus (ECIPS+) missile attack warning systems of Israeli manufacture.
ECIPS+ system on the pylon under the wing of the Ukrainian F-16 fighter. Photo: screenshot
According to Rustamadze, fighters carry these systems on specialized pylons under their wings. They can also be equipped with dipole reflectors, heat traps and electronic warfare (EW) equipment.
"Simply put, they have a great chance to escape from the enemy's missiles," the expert summed up.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on August 4, on the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed that Ukraine received the first F-16 fighter jets.
It will be recalled that on the same day The Economist wrote with reference to its own sources that Ukraine received 10 F-16 fighter jets in the first batch.
Earlier, a number of Western mass media reported that the Ukrainian military received only 6 aircraft in the first batch.
In addition, analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predicted how Ukraine's acquisition of F-16 fighter jets could affect the course of hostilities.
Who we are: About us, Contacts. How we write news and our principles: Editorial code. We did our best. If you found this valuable – please support us.
To request a correction, please send an email.