A Ukrainian pilot on an F-16 Fighting Falcon shot down 6 missiles in one combat mission. The historic record was announced by Yuriy Ihnat, head of the public relations service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He said it happened during a massive attack on 13 December 2024.
The Ukrainian pilot destroyed six Russian cruise missiles in one combat mission, using all four air-to-air missiles and an aircraft cannon.
"Based on the results of objective control, we have one hundred per cent confirmation of the fact that for the first time in history, an American F-16 fighter jet shot down six cruise missiles in an anti-aircraft battle, two of them with an aircraft cannon. And it was done by a Ukrainian!" Ihnat wrote.
The pilot was greeted with applause at the airfield.
Ihnat noted that the Americans overseas were also pleasantly surprised to learn how their wards work.
"Yes, we have received not very new Efok modifications from our partners (after all, like other ground weapons), we do not have powerful radars and long-range 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 jet!" Ihnat said.
He noted that war-hardened Ukrainian pilots will be a formidable deterrent in the centre of Europe if the Air Force receives, say, F-35s.