The Ukrainian Air Force announced that a Ukrainian F-16 pilot made military history by shooting down six Russian cruise missiles during a single combat mission. This extraordinary feat occurred during a large-scale missile attack by Russia on December 13, 2024.
Massive Attack with Over 90 Missiles and 200 Drones
Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, stated that the attack targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, involving more than 90 missiles and approximately 200 unmanned aerial vehicles. Ihnat emphasized that the pilot’s achievement has been verified through “objective examination,” and no other F-16 pilot had ever achieved such a record in a single mission.
According to Colonel Ihnat, the pilot carried only four medium- and short-range air-to-air missiles. After deploying long-range missiles, the pilot had to close in to within two miles of the targets to use short-range missiles effectively.
The pilot, whose name remains undisclosed, described the mission’s challenges:
“Striking a missile traveling faster than 650 km/h is not easy. First, I had to locate the target in the sky, adjust my altitude, and engage it from no more than 500 meters. Closing in any further is extremely dangerous—if a 450-kilogram warhead detonates, there’s a risk my plane could be caught in the debris cloud.”
Despite having trained solely in simulators, the pilot managed to destroy two of the missiles with cannon fire, ultimately neutralizing six missiles in total. The pilot dedicated his achievement to his fallen comrades.
F-16s Play a Critical Role for Ukraine
Ukraine received its first F-16 fighter jets on July 31, 2024. A coalition including Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium pledged to provide a total of 60 jets. On December 7, Ukraine received its second batch of F-16s from Denmark. These aircraft have quickly become pivotal in enhancing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
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