With the Chinese New Year approaching, the U.S. military's recent actions have been quite aggressive, with the U.S. Navy sending two aircraft carriers to flex force near China. In addition, the US Air Force demonstrated B-1B and B-52H strategic nuclear bombers, which demonstrated one after another.
The deployment and deterrence of the US military's naval and air forces is clearly a provocative action against China, highlighting the hostile position of the United States towards China. Although the United States needs China's cooperation in many aspects, the US military has shown no scruples in its naval and air forces as the Spring Festival is approaching, trying to maintain the status of the United States as the "world's policeman" through pressure.
Just when the US naval and air forces were showing toughness, there was sad news: according to foreign media reports, a US Air Force F-16C D fighter suddenly crashed into the waters of the Yellow Sea. After this sudden incident, South Korea and the United States urgently dispatched search and rescue forces to search. According to information released by South Korea, the pilot who ejected and escaped has been successfully rescued. According to information provided by South Korea, the F-16C D fighter jet crashed near Jido Island in the Yellow Sea, and fortunately, before the plane crashed, the US pilot managed to eject and escape, defusing a crisis. The crashed F-16C D fighter jet belonged to the Gunsan base of the US military stationed in South Korea and was on a mission in the airspace over the Yellow Sea, which is relatively close to the base.
Judging from the information disclosed by foreign media, the US Air Force's F-16C D fighter plane suffered an accident while participating in the joint military exercise in the Yellow Sea that began early this week and lost an F-16C D fighter. The incident occurred on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the American F-16C D fighter jet, which was supposed to be a time of celebration, but was overshadowed by the crash of the F-16C D.
The F-16C D was originally a lower-cost fighter with only one engine and was originally designed to be used in a low-spec match with the F-15 family of fighters. However, the U.S. Air Force has now stopped improving the F-16C D and turned its attention to the more advanced F-35A Lightning II fighter. In the Pacific, the United States has deployed a large number of F-35A fighters in Alaska, Japan and the Ryukyus, enhancing its comprehensive combat capability in the first island chain.
The F-16C D fighter was once the mainstay of the U.S. Air Force, but now with the gradual replacement of the F-35A, the F-16C D improvement program has been discontinued. U.S. Pacific Air Forces continue to deploy F-16C D fighters in South Korea and Japan, but the focus for future development has shifted to the more modern and versatile F-35A fighters. This accident further underscores the continuous progress of the US Air Force in technological upgrading and strategic adjustment.
According to information from the front line, the F-16C D fighters used by the US Pacific Air Force can be described as unforgiving, and they have long entered the ranks of old age, older than many pilots. The frequent accidents of these F-16C D fighters are likely related to their long-term service. The aging F-16C D fighter jets are now ineffective in America's efforts to contain China, and are often mobilized for demonstrations, which backfire. In fact, as of January 2024, the US Air Force has already suffered heavy losses, and at the beginning of the month, not only the B-1B strategic nuclear bomber crashed, but now the F-16C D fighter crashed into the sea, which can be said to have sounded the alarm for the US Air Force again.