The "evil spirit" that shot down the US fighter jet appeared in the sky of Ukraine

On April 12, a US-made F-16 fighter jet operated by the Ukrainian military was shot down. Ukrainian military sources said a missile from the S-400 surface-to-air system, or an R-37 air-to-air missile, was likely the culprit. Photo: @Times Of India.

The information was also confirmed by the Ukrainian Air Force and reported by the BBC, marking another chapter in the escalating air war between Ukraine and Russia. Photo: @Kanal13.

While the loss of the Ukrainian F-16 and its pilot has attracted attention, the type of weapon used to shoot down the plane is also receiving much attention. Photo: @Kanal13.

The BBC quoted a Ukrainian military source as saying that three missiles were fired at the F-16, including an S-400 missile or an R-37 air-to-air missile that hit the F-16 jet. Photo: @Times Of India.

Ukrainian officials have ruled out the possibility of a misfire, stressing that no Ukrainian air defense systems were operating in the area where the incident occurred. Photo: @Kanal13.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said the F-16 was hit by a surface-to-air missile , although it did not provide specifics. The lack of conclusive evidence leaves open the question of exactly what type of weapon was used. Photo: @Kanal13.

For now, Russia’s powerful S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system, or the hotly debated R-37 air-to-air missile, offers a close-up look at the technological and tactical military competition taking place in the skies over Ukraine. Photo: @Dutch Ministry of Defence.

The S-400 Triumf, known to NATO as the SA-21 Growler, is the cornerstone of Russia's air defense network. Developed by Russia's NPO Almaz in the 1990s as an evolution of the earlier S-300 series, the S-400 entered service in 2007. It has since become one of the most advanced surface-to-air missile systems in the world . Photo: @Missile Threat - CSIS.

The S-400 can engage targets at ranges of up to 402 km with its longest-range missile, the 40N6E. Although shorter-range missile options such as the 48N6E3, with a range of around 241 km, are typically used against fast-moving jets. Photo: @Bulgarian Military.

The S-400 system's 92N6E radar, commonly known as "Grave Stone" by NATO, can track up to 100 targets at once, providing data to launchers for missile deployment. Photo: @RBC-Ukraine.

What sets the S-400 apart is its ability to be integrated into a multi-layered defense network. Combined with shorter-range systems like the Pantsir-S1 and supported by electronic warfare units, it creates a formidable barrier. Photo: @ Sputnik News.

In Ukraine, Russia has deployed S-400 battalions to protect key areas, including occupied territories and border areas such as Kursk and Belgorod. Photo: @The Times of Israel.

If the S-400 was indeed responsible for shooting down the F-16, it would suggest that the Ukrainian jet was operating in a heavily guarded area, possibly near Sumy Oblast, where clashes have been escalating recently. Photo: @Aravot .

The S-400 system's long range would allow Russian forces to attack F-16s from a safe distance, exploiting gaps in Ukraine's air defense suppression capabilities. Photo: @The Defense Post.

The R-37 air-to-air missile system presents a different scenario. Developed by Vympel in the 1980s and modernized in the 2010s, it is one of the world’s longest-range weapons of its type, capable of hitting targets up to 300 km away. Photo: @Wikipedia.

Fired from a MiG-31BM interceptor or Su-35S fighter, the R-37M travels at Mach 6, using a combination of inertial guidance and active radar guidance to pursue agile targets. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

The R-37M's 60kg high-explosive warhead is designed to destroy everything from fighter jets to reconnaissance aircraft, making it a deadly weapon against high-priority threats. Photo: @Bulgarian Military.

If an R-37M missile shot down the F-16, it would suggest that a Russian aircraft, possibly a MiG-31, was patrolling at high altitude, using its powerful Zaslon-M radar to detect the Ukrainian F-16 jet from a distance. Photo: @topwar.ru.

The R-37M's extremely long range allows Russian pilots to engage without entering contested airspace, a tactic that protects their aircraft while forcing Ukrainian pilots to operate defensively. Photo: @topwar.ru.

In conclusion, the choice of the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system or the R-37 air-to-air missile, both demonstrate Russia’s strategic adaptation, and the challenges Ukraine faces in integrating advanced Western technology into a brutal, high-risk battlefield. Photo: @Military Watch Magazine.

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Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/hung-than-ban-ha-tiem-kich-my-xuat-dau-lo-dien-tren-bau-troi-ukraine-post268293.html