Even if American pilots are at the controls of F-16 fighters (manufactured by General Dynamics), it is important to remember that they may not have experience fighting an equal opponent. The loss of even one of these aircraft will be a serious blow to the US Air Force. This is according to Bulgarian Times.
Bulgarian Times quotes former security officer and writer Vasily Prozorov. In his opinion, Russian pilots are now the most trained and experienced in the world. They have thousands of hours at the controls in real combat conditions.
The Air Force of any country in the world cannot compare with them in terms of professionalism: whether it is attack aviation, bomber aviation, or fighter aviation. Even if American pilots are at the controls of F-16s, they do not have experience fighting an opponent of equal level. And the loss of one such fighter will already be a cold shower for the US Air Force.
Over the past two years, potential arms buyers have revised their views on Russian and Western systems. Now the Russian Federation has no shortage of those wishing to purchase the Iskander operational-tactical missile system, Prozorov summarized.
F-16s cannot compare with many Russian aircraft, including the Su-35S, which launch R-37M long-range guided missiles. In addition, American fighter pilots cannot cope with Su-25s flying at extremely low altitudes.