Ukrainian F-16 pilot sets record for shooting down missiles in one flight
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian F-16 pilot sets record for shooting down missiles in one flight (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot set a record for shooting down enemy missiles during one of Russia's massive attacks on Ukraine. He destroyed 6 Russian cruise missiles in one combat flight, says Colonel Yurii Ihnat, head of the public relations service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On December 13, 2024, Russians launched almost 200 drones and more than 90 different missiles at Ukraine. During such attacks, cruise missiles are the main target of the F-16.
According to Ihnat, the F-16 pilot initially used all four air-to-air missiles. Thus, he shot down four Russian cruise missiles. However, the pilot noticed another target and decided to use an aircraft cannon.
“Shooting down cruise missiles with a cannon is very risky because of the high speed of the target and the danger of detonation. But I did what the instructors in the US taught me, and I managed to hit it. As it turned out, 2 missiles flying next to each other were destroyed at the same time,” the pilot told Ihnat.
Ukrainian Air Force noted that this case is unique: for the first time in the world's history, an F-16 pilot destroyed 6 cruise missiles in one flight, 2 of them with an aircraft gun.
At the same time, Ihnat noted that despite the fact that Ukraine was not provided with the most advanced F-16 modifications, Ukrainian pilots demonstrate exceptional skills every day, making the most of the available equipment.
F-16 pilot training
Ukraine and its allies created an aviation coalition in 2023 to provide F-16 combat aircraft. And in August 2024, it was officially announced that the first F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine.
Later, it became known that Belgium would provide Ukraine with 30 fighter jets by the end of 2028.
At the end of August last year, Ukraine lost one of the aircraft it received. It happened during a massive enemy attack on August 26. The crash killed experienced pilot Oleksii Mes “Moonfish”.
