Ukrainian F-16 pilot shoots down six Russian cruise missiles.

(CLO) A Ukrainian pilot flying an F-16 fighter jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles during a mission last month. This is considered a historic milestone in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to an announcement from Kyiv.

Ukraine is expected to receive its first batch of F-16s in August 2024 after months of waiting, with the expectation that this fourth-generation aircraft will improve its combat capabilities compared to the Soviet-era planes it previously used.

F-16 aircraft. Photo: Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway / U.S. Air Force

Despite concerns about pilot training time, the F-16's successful shooting down of a Russian missile will help boost morale among Ukrainian forces, especially after a Ukrainian pilot was killed shortly after receiving his aircraft.

According to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force, the mission took place during a major Russian airstrike on December 13, 2024, when nearly 200 UAVs and 94 missiles were deployed by Russia.

In a Facebook post, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat revealed that the pilot shot down six Russian cruise missiles, partly by using the aircraft's cannons – something never before done in combat.

The pilot, trained by American instructors, approached the missile cluster and locked onto its target despite the enemy's electronic jamming system. He successively used medium- and short-range missiles to destroy the first four. Then, the pilot spotted another missile heading towards Kyiv at approximately 640 km/h and decided to use the aircraft's missiles to shoot it down.

"Even the Americans couldn't believe we had done it," said Ihnat.

The Ukrainian Air Force claims this is the first time in history that a US F-16 fighter jet has shot down six cruise missiles simultaneously in a single mission.

This event is expected to strengthen Kyiv's call for more F-16s from its European allies. According to RBC-Ukraine, Belgium is expected to supply Ukraine with 30 F-16s by the end of 2028.

Ihnat also emphasized the importance of strengthening the air force's equipment: "Imagine the enormous deterrent that Ukrainian pilots, with their extensive war experience, could create if they were equipped with modern aircraft like the F-35."

Cao Phong (according to UKN, Newsweek, GI)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phi-cong-ukraine-dieu-khien-f-16-ban-ha-6-ten-lua-hanh-trinh-nga-post329479.html