Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
They’ve made a huge difference in both offensive and defensive operations.
A new chapter opened in Ukraine’s fight for its airspace when Western-supplied F-16 jets appeared over the country in August 2024.
Their arrival, first disclosed by the Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram and reported by Ukrinform, marked a shift in Kyiv’s efforts to blunt Russian attacks.
Ukrainian pilots, who trained for months abroad, quickly adapted to the aircraft. Military officials say the F-16s have already altered the tempo of aerial combat.
Rapid adaptation
According to a Telegram post by the Ukrainian Air Force, the jets have helped crews employ new tactics for air and anti-air missions.
These methods, they said, have produced “consistently high results” in blocking Russian strikes.
According to the post F-16s have intercepted more than 1,300 airborne threats since entering service.
During a major Russian barrage on November 19, pilots flying F-16s and French-built Mirage-2000s reportedly destroyed at least 10 cruise missiles.
The information has not been independently verified.
Expanding missions
Beyond their defensive role, the aircraft have been deployed for close-air-support strikes.
The Air Force said F-16 pilots have hit more than 300 ground targets, taking out Russian armored vehicles, command hubs, drone control sites, ammunition storage and supply routes.
Officials emphasized that these operations are carried out daily under intense pressure, with crews facing continuous risk.
Supply concerns
Despite recent successes, Ukrainian commanders warn that the jets’ effectiveness hinges on steady supplies of Western munitions.
They stressed that without sufficient stocks of bombs and missiles, the aircraft “cannot secure victory” on their own.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also reported that Ukraine’s air-defense network downed
- 442 drones
- 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles
- seven Kalibr missiles
launched by Russia between the evening of November 18 and the following day.
Sources: The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Telegram, Ukrinform
