Six Russian missiles shot down in one combat mission – record of Ukrainian F-16 pilot
www.pravda.com.ua
Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:51:39 +0200
For the first time in the history of the use of the Fighting Falcon, an F16 fighter destroyed six Russian cruise missiles in one combat mission, two of them with an aircraft gun, during a largescale missile and drone attack in December 2024.
Source Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, on Facebook Details On 13 December, a largescale Russian air attack occurred there were almost 200 Russian drones, Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, ballistic missiles and 94 air, sea and landbased cruise missiles in the sky.
Cruise missiles are the main target of the Ukrainian fighter jet.
Intercepting such important targets is not an easy task for a pilot, but Ihnat notes that Ukrainian pilots have the most experience in combat operations against cruise missiles.
Under the wings of the F16, the Ukrainian pilot had only four airtoair missiles medium and shortrange.
The longerrange missiles were used first, and then the pilot had to get close to about two miles about 3.2 km to use the shortrange missiles.
Quote from the pilot The navigator is guiding me to the enemy targets a group of eight cruise missiles is on course.
I reach the appropriate distance and see obstacles, which means that the missiles have their electronic warfare, the socalled personal electronic warfare system.
The F16s sight is quite powerful, and if the target is already in the scope, even under the influence of electronic warfare, it will not escape the onboard radar.
I flew up to a convenient distance, captured the targets, launched the missiles one by one, and hit both targets were destroyed I approached the second pair of missiles, captured the missiles, and saw that they were also echoing the Russian electronic warfare system, but it didnt help them much.
The first launch hit the target, and the second one, too I was on cloud nine because I saw all the hits on the enemy missiles with my eyes Some fuel remained in the overhead tanks, and the combat work continuedThe guidance navigator commanded me to go to the duty area to let my brotherinarms on the Su27 work on targets.
Details The pilot followed the command from the command post and moved to the designated area.
However, another Russian cruise missile came on his course, heading towards the capital.
The pilot decided to take a chance and use a veryhighspeed aircraft gun.
Quote from the pilot I realised there were few chances to hit a missile flying at 650 km.
First, I had to find it in the sky, get to the same altitude and hit it from a distance of no more than one and a half kilometres.
And flying closer is extremely dangerous if a 450kilogram warhead detonates, there is a high risk of the aircraft flying into a cloud of wreckage. More details In the United States, pilots learned how to shoot down air targets with an aircraft gun exclusively on simulators.
In real flight, Ukrainian F16 pilots have never used the aircraft gun against missiles.
This time, everything went perfectly.
Quote from the pilot At first, I was looking for a target below I saw nothing.
Then I increased the height, raised the radar and saw it.
I did everything as the instructors in the US had taught me, as I had practised on the simulator.
A few rounds from the gun and an explosionthen another A second detonationI thought, but as it turned out, according to the results of objective control, there were two missiles They flew in a vertical line next to each other.
The enemy often launches them in such a tactical configuration.
A group of enemy missiles can fly close to each other so the enemy sees them as one target.
Well, I probably set a record that day.
However, the main thing is the result Im glad I succeeded, and I dedicate this success to all my brothersinarms who have gone into eternal flight before they could see the F16 in the Ukrainian sky. Quote from Yurii Ihnat Yes, we have received from our partners not very new modifications of the F16 after all, like other ground weapons we do not have powerful radars and longrange missiles on these aircraft to compete in air battles with Russian technological aircraft alone, but young Ukrainian pilots prove every day that they are the best, whether in the cockpit of a Soviet or American fighter Just imagine what a formidable deterrent in the centre of Europe will be the warhardened Ukrainian pilots when the Air Force receives, say, F35s Support UP or become our patron
Latest news
more news