PUBLISHED on August 11, 2025, 2:15 PM EDT – Key Points and Summary – A privately owned Canadian F-16 is now flying as a mock adversary for the U.S. Air Force, sporting a new paint scheme that mimics Russia’s Su-57 “Felon” stealth fighter.
-The jet, a former Israeli F-16A operated by contractor Top Aces, is part of a fleet of upgraded “Advanced Aggressor Fighters” used to provide realistic combat training for American pilots.
-Complete with red Soviet-style stars, the new livery is designed to simulate the visual profile of a potential enemy aircraft, allowing U.S. forces to practice tactics against a near-peer threat without using their own frontline fighters.
Canadian F-16 Dupes Russian Paint Scheme
A Canadian-owned F-16 has taken on a rather Russian-looking garb.
During a recent outing as a mock adversary for U.S. fighters, the former Israeli Air Force F-16A Netz jet was snapped sporting a splinter-pattern camouflage close in looks to that of Moscow’s fifth-generation Su-57 “Felon.”
Official Photos Shared of F-16
The aircraft, tail number N871TA, flew from its private contractor Top Aces’ maintenance hub at Mesa Gateway Airport to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona under the callsign “ACES 1.” Aviation photographer Billy Ellison captured detailed images of the new livery during sorties on August 4 and 5.
‘Experience Matters’?
From certain angles, the resemblance to Russia’s stealth fighter is uncanny.
The grey, low-visibility scheme is punctuated by red Soviet-style stars on the tail and wings, and a Cyrillic slogan on the tail fin reading “Опыт Важен” (“Experience Matters”). This is an obvious nod to Top Aces’ pitch that its veteran pilots provide the most realistic threat training available.
While the paint job may look like a novelty, the work behind the scenes is serious business.
Since 2021, Top Aces has acquired 29 surplus F-16As from Israel, upgrading them to the firm’s Advanced Aggressor Fighter (AAF) standard.
The active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, helmet-mounted displays, datalinks, and electronic countermeasures.
The jets also feature infrared search-and-track pods, which were introduced from 2024. These aircraft travel without live weapons, although they are capable of mimicking high-level foreign fighters like the Su-35 or Su-57 rather well.
Is NATO Provoking Russia?
This is not about provocation, but practice.
Modern air combat training is not just about dogfighting skill, but about honing in on the tactics and signatures of potential enemies.
Contractors like Top Aces allow militaries to train against “enemy” jets without diverting their front-line fighters from operational duties. They can also change paint schemes and profiles to roleplay multiple threats.
The company once flew an F-16 in a “Flanker Blue” scheme modelled on Russian Su-27/35 fighters, similar to those used by the U.S. Air Force’s 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB.
With the debut of the Felon look, more variations are likely to follow.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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