For the first time ever, a Ukrainian F-16 pilot set a record by destroying missiles in a single flight.

A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot set a record for shooting down enemy missiles during one of Russia's mass attacks on Ukraine. He destroyed six enemy cruise missiles in a single combat sortie.

According to RBK-Ukraine, this was reported by Colonel Yuri Ignat, head of the public relations service of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.

Ignat stated that the incident occurred during a large-scale shelling on December 13, when the Russians launched nearly 200 drones and over 90 different missiles, including "Kinzhal" missiles, at Ukraine. During such attacks, the primary target for the F-16s is the cruise missiles.

As Ignat recounted, the F-16 pilot initially used all four air-to-air missiles, successfully shooting down four Russian cruise missiles. However, the pilot spotted another target and decided to employ the aircraft's cannon.

"Shooting down cruise missiles with a cannon is very risky due to the high speed of the target and the danger of detonation. But I acted according to what the instructors taught me in the USA, and I managed to hit. It turned out that two missiles flying close together were destroyed simultaneously," the pilot told Ignat.

The Air Force noted that this case is unique: it marks the first time in history that an F-16 pilot has destroyed six cruise missiles in one sortie, two of which were downed using the aircraft's cannon.

At the same time, Ignat emphasized that despite Ukraine receiving less advanced modifications of the F-16, Ukrainian pilots demonstrate exceptional skills daily, making the most of the available technology.

Training of F-16 Pilots

Previously, we reported that Ukraine and its allies formed an aviation coalition in 2023 to provide F-16 fighter jets. By August 2024, it was officially announced that the first F-16s had arrived in Ukraine.

Subsequently, it became known that Belgium will transfer 30 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2028.

It is also worth recalling that at the end of August last year, Ukraine lost one of the received aircraft. This occurred during a massive enemy attack on August 26. As a result of the aviation accident, experienced pilot Alexey Mesi "Moonfish" lost his life.