Aviation News – Ukraine’s air force says its F-16 fighter jets have destroyed more than 1,000 Russian aerial targets since entering combat, highlighting their growing importance in defending cities and critical infrastructure. The milestone offers the clearest indication yet of how the Western-built aircraft is shaping Ukraine’s air war.
The figure was disclosed in a Ukrainian Air Force video interview with an F-16 pilot and follows the aircraft’s combat debut in August 2024. Ukraine received the jets from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway as part of a multinational effort to strengthen Kyiv’s air defenses amid continued Russian missile and drone attacks.
According to the air force, the F-16s are primarily used in an air-defense mission, intercepting cruise missiles and one-way attack drones before they reach populated areas. Equipped with modern sensors and weapons, the jets can rapidly detect, track, and engage threats, acting as a fast-response bolt in Ukraine’s layered air-defense network.