For the first time in history, a Ukrainian F-16 pilot shot down six Russian missiles in one sortie
news.online.ua
Tue, 07 Jan 2025 13:01:00 +0200
The Air Force spoke about the record of the Ukrainian F16 pilotAs reported by Colonel Yuriy Ignat, Head of the Public Relations Service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the record combat sortie took place during largescale Russian shelling on December 13.Then the enemy launched almost 200 drones, Kinzhal missiles, and over 90 other missiles.The main task of F16 fighters in such attacks is to intercept cruise missiles.The F16 pilot first used four airtoair missiles, shooting down four cruise missiles.
He then spotted another target and decided to use his aircraft cannon.
It is extremely risky to shoot down cruise missiles with a cannon because of their high speed and the danger of detonation.
But the pilot, using training received from American instructors, managed to destroy two missiles flying nearby with one shot, Ignat said.
This incident was the first in history when an F16 pilot destroyed six cruise missiles in a single sortie, two of which were shot down with an aircraft cannon.Yuriy Ignat emphasized that, despite the transfer of not the most modern F16 modifications to Ukraine, Ukrainian pilots demonstrate exceptional skill, effectively using available equipment.What is known about the massive Russian attack on Ukraine on December 13What is important to understand is that the Russian army launched a new largescale attack at 200 PM on December 12 in total, it lasted until 1000 AM on December 13.The enemy once again resorted to a combined air attack on Ukraine with missiles of various types and attack dronesIn total, the Air Force radiotechnical troops detected 287 enemy air attack vehicles during this period 94 missiles and 193 UAVs.Through joint efforts, air defense forces managed to shoot down80 Kh101/Kh55SM/Caliber/IskanderK cruise missiles1 IskanderM ballistic missile80 Shahed attack UAVs and unmanned aerial vehicles of unknown type.105 enemy drones did not reach their targets due to active countermeasures by the Defense Forces lost in location, five returned to Russia, and another one returned to Belarus.What is important to understand is that the Russian strike was mainly aimed at Ukraines energy facilities.
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