Additional Coverage:
- Ukraine said one of its F-16 pilots achieved a feat nobody flying the jet has managed before (newsbreak.com)
Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Achieves Historic Feat
A Ukrainian F-16 pilot has reportedly made history by shooting down six Russian cruise missiles in a single flight. The pilot reportedly used air-to-air missiles and an aircraft cannon to target the missiles.
The incident occurred during a Russian missile and drone attack in December. The pilot used all four air-to-air missiles on board the F-16 and then struck two more missiles using the aircraft cannon.
The Ukrainian air force command confirmed the pilot’s achievement, describing it as a first in the F-16’s history. The pilot had recently received training in the United States to operate F-16s.
The pilot said he had never used an aviation cannon to shoot down targets before, but applied lessons learned in the US. He expressed confidence that his experience would benefit other pilots.
The Ukrainian air force command praised the pilot’s skills and experience, noting that Ukraine’s pilots have extensive experience in intercepting missiles. Russia has frequently launched missile attacks on Ukraine since its invasion in 2022.