Over 600 Missiles and 2,500 UAVs: Air Force Commander Reveals F-16 Performance in Ukraine

Ukrainian pilots flying F-16 fighter jets have already shot down over 3,150 enemy aerial targets.

This was announced by the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, during a meeting between a Ukrainian delegation and representatives of Lockheed Martin.

In particular, he said that among the targets destroyed were 666 cruise missiles.

Ukrainian pilots have also managed to neutralize approximately 2,500 enemy drones of various types.

In addition to air defense operations, F-16 crews have carried out more than 650 airstrikes against enemy ground targets.

Anatoliy Kryvonozhko emphasized that pilots are using the F-16s as effectively as possible despite limited ammunition supplies and are employing a diverse range of weapons.

Conor McGuire, head of F-16 capability development at the US company, participated in the negotiations.

McGuire expressed Lockheed Martin’s intention to help Ukraine enhance the combat capability of its existing aircraft platform.

The parties also discussed the prospect of the Air Force’s future transition to new F-16 variants, specifically the Block 70/72.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Ukrainian Air Force is deploying F-16 fighter jets to shoot down Russian jet drones.

Additionally, according to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Ukrainian F-16 scored its first victory in aerial combat by shooting down a Russian aircraft.

He did not specify the type of Russian aircraft, nor did he disclose the location, date, or circumstances of the aerial engagement.