Ukrainian Air Force F-16

[Forest Green]

Also, R-37Ms have plenty of confirmed kills. Frankly speaking, for almost two years it's the only a2a weapon in this whole war which still does.

Claimed by one side only.

 

[Ainen]

Claimed by one side only.

Ukrainian?
Pianos, much like FB black photos, are considered reliable.

 

[Ainen]

Nevertheless the ability to is at least there whereas it never was with the F-111.

Sukhoi Su-34 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I suspect it's F-111D story - was supposed to, but doesn't really work.

 

[Forest Green]

Claimed by Russia only.

 

[Forest Green]

That was the YAIM-7G only, which never made it to production.

The F-111D and YAIM-7G

The F-111D was the second USAF version of the F-111 Aardvark. Among other improvements, the D featured the Mark II avionics which featured an MTI intercept radar and Ku-band CW guidance beam for SARH missiles. This missile was the YAIM-7G. I am currently working on a suggestion for the F-111D...

forum.warthunder.com

The YAIM-7G was a modified version of the AIM-7F with a seeker tuned to the F-111D’s Ku (J) band radar as opposed to the Ka (I) of the F-4. Any YAIM-7Gs produced were built on existing AIM-7F airframes.

Development of the YAIM-7G started in 1965 and was cancelled in 1970 though seems to have continued into 1971, or at least was still funded. The first F-111D was produced in 1968 though it only entered service in 1971. So it’s possible that it was mounted for evaluation. The Y designation would also indicate a preproduction, combat-ready batch as opposed to X for a purely developmental program.

 

[Ainen]

Claimed by Russia only.

For both nations, losses of crews are pretty well documented.
No, this isn't Russian claims, it is Ukrainian obituaries - no one sane in this war tracks the claims of either side, unless confirmed in such a way.
Obituaries either directly mention how the person died ("in air combat against invaders"), or at least allow to match the time and place of death against the claims.

Like, for example:

Accident Sukhoi Su-27PU2M 73 Blue, Friday 17 May 2024

On 17 May 2024, a Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 of the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade was shot down in combat with aircraft of the Russian Air Force in the vicinity of Metalivka, Chuh...

asn.flightsafety.org

 

[Antonio]

You are going pretty off-topic from post #151 onwards

 

[kaiserbill]

It's the same crew that seek to steer every possible thread onto the war and the politics thereof.

 

[Forest Green]

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/su-30-su-33-su-34-and-su-35-news-thread-pictures-and-discussion.32631/post-718803

This victory, Ukraine's first in air-to-air combat using the F-16, was achieved with the advanced AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, known for its infrared homing and high maneuverability. The AIM-9X, widely regarded for its lethality, gives the F-16 a significant edge in dogfights, able to engage enemy aircraft at high angles and within close-range combat scenarios.

 

[MihoshiK]

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/su-30-su-33-su-34-and-su-35-news-thread-pictures-and-discussion.32631/post-718803

If that was a 50 klick range shootdown, that's pretty impressive range on AIM-9X. Maybe helped by a non maneuvering target if the SU-34 didn't notice it was under fire?

 

[Ainen]

If that was a 50 klick range shootdown, that's pretty impressive range on AIM-9X. Maybe helped by a non maneuvering target if the SU-34 didn't notice it was under fire?

50 km range even for MICA-IR is achievable only for high altitude, supersonic shot against cooperative target. It's a f-16, not f/a-22 to do it(such a shot will be over Russian lines, 50 km range is possible between targets at launch, it does not refer to navigational range actually flown by the missile to the impact point). In any case, use of sidewinder over amraam in such a shot is...strange and raises questions.

Realistically it seems like someone is ...wishguessing from a recent photo of aim-9x crate, and bigger media picked up the sensation.
Since VKS activity didn't change at all(no reaction) - unless reliably proven otherwise, sounds like another ghost story.

 

[Forest Green]

If that was a 50 klick range shootdown, that's pretty impressive range on AIM-9X. Maybe helped by a non maneuvering target if the SU-34 didn't notice it was under fire?

The Su-34 was only 14km from the frontline based on liveuamap. Longer range was achieved with AIM-9s even back in Desert Storm on a head-to-head closure.

 

[BlackBat242]

The Su-34 was only 14km from the frontline based on liveuamap. Longer range was achieved with AIM-9s even back in Desert Storm on a head-to-head closure.

Also consider that the AIM-9X has passive targeting, so unless the Su-34's radar picks up the missile itself (a very small head-on target) it likely never knew a missile was on the way and never maneuvered, thus counting as a "cooperative target".

 

[NMaude]

Concerning the recently destroyed Su-34 Fullback Defense Updates has uploaded a video about how it apparently happened:

West-supplied Ukrainian F-16 seems to have landed its first air-to-air fighter jet kill.As per reports, one of Moscow's fighter jets has been shot down by Ukrainian forces.

The Telegram channel Fighterbomber which has close ties with the Russian Aerospace Forces, looked like paid tribute to the lost Su-34 fighter by simply posting a black and white photo with the words: “Earth is sky brothers…”,

The pro-Moscow Telegram channel VDV for Honesty and Justice shared the post, added more detail,"Urgent!!! Our Su-34 has been shot down. The crew was killed,”. It further added it “was apparently shot down by an F-16, which was over enemy-controlled territory."It also said that the plane had been attacked during an air bomb drop "approximately 50 km (30 miles) from the front line,"

In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how Ukrainian F-16 apparently downed the Russian Su-34 ?

#defenseupdates #F16ukraine #ukrainerussiawar

Chapters:
00:11 INTRODUCTION
02:05 S-70 OKHOTNIK
04:06 SU-57 FELON KNOCKS OUT
07:01 ANALYSIS

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846896434643120630

 

[yahya]

F-16 fighter jets ‘no longer relevant’, says Ukrainian military official

Air force expected to receive a dozen aircraft in July, but high-ranking officer says army now needs ‘hundreds of thousands of shells’

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[paralay]

“And once we’ve taken the threat away, the Patriots go back to where they were stationed.”

What?!

 

[yahya]

Cyberspec News

An F-16 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force flew over the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian media reports.

t.me

 

[Forest Green]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouJzi0wpi84

 

[NMaude]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouJzi0wpi84

It appears to be an AS-15 Kent.

 

[yahya]

Over Ukraine.

Военный обозреватель

Один из наиболее редких на вооружении ВзСУ истребителей F-16 американского производства замечен где-то над Украиной. По информации профильных ресурсов, первый F-16 уже сбит. На данный момент нет официальной информации от Минобороны России. #Украина @new_militarycolumnist

t.me

 

[NMaude]

Defense Updates uploaded earlier today a video about the F-16 that shot down six Russian missiles recently:

Ukraine's Air Force reported that an American-made F-16 jet operated by Ukrainian forces successfully knocked down six Russian cruise missiles during a single mission.

Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat stated that the interception occurred on December 13, 2024, amidst a large-scale Russian aerial assault involving nearly 200 drones and 94 missiles.This record-setting achievement marks the first time an F-16 fighter jet has neutralized such a high number of targets in a single engagement, underscoring the aircraft's pivotal role in Ukraine's air defense.

While initial concerns about pilot training were heightened by the tragic loss of a Ukrainian pilot shortly after the F-16s' delivery, this successful deployment of the fighter jet is a significant morale boost for Ukraine's forces.

In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why American F-16s are proving great air defense assets for Ukraine?

#defenseupdates #f16fighter #f16ukraine

Chapters:
00:11 INTRODUCTION
01:59 PILOT’s DEBRIEFING
03:39 RUSSIAN AERIAL ONSLAUGHTS
04:31 F-16s FOR UKRAINE
06:03 ANALYSIS

 

[Flyaway]

NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com)

In addition to the French Mirage 2000-5F fighters, Ukraine also received F-16 aircraft from The Netherlands, Defense Minister Umerov announced.

bsky.app

 

[Scott Kenny]

Defense Updates uploaded earlier today a video about the F-16 that shot down six Russian missiles recently:

Has it been decided if cruise missiles (and drones) count towards reaching Ace status?

 

[NMaude]

NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com)

In addition to the French Mirage 2000-5F fighters, Ukraine also received F-16 aircraft from The Netherlands, Defense Minister Umerov announced.

bsky.app

The Dutch F-16s will be very useful as the Dutch regularly upgraded them to match the USAF F-16s capabilities.

 

[yahya]

Cyberspec News

Rare footage of an American F-16 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force. The aircraft has a full complement of air-to-air missiles AIM-120 and AIM-9 to intercept drones and cruise missiles. Two external fuel tanks are visible, which confirms the information about the use of the F-16 only as an...

t.me

 

[NMaude]

Cyberspec News

Rare footage of an American F-16 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force. The aircraft has a full complement of air-to-air missiles AIM-120 and AIM-9 to intercept drones and cruise missiles. Two external fuel tanks are visible, which confirms the information about the use of the F-16 only as an...

t.me

I can't access it as it's on Telegram and I don't use Telegram or any other social media, do you have an alternative link?

 

[yahya]

No, I don't. It's a vid, and I do not know how to post its file directly on the forum. The original description of the vid is as follows:

Rare footage of an American F-16 fighter jet of the Ukrainian Air Force.

The aircraft has a full complement of air-to-air missiles AIM-120 and AIM-9 to intercept drones and cruise missiles.

Two external fuel tanks are visible, which confirms the information about the use of the F-16 only as an air defense system from remote airfields, including European countries bordering Ukraine.

You can also see the AN/ALQ-131 electronic warfare container.

 

[Robert]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FighterJets/comments/1im294o/ukraine_f16_with_gbu39_and_analq131_jammer

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/FighterJets/comments/1im294o/ukraine_f16_with_gbu39_and_analq131_jammer/

 

[NMaude]

Millenium7HistoryTech has just released a short video about the recent contributions Ukraine's F-16s have made:

 

[Deino]

Just an image ...

 

[Tonton-42]

I do not know if the machines will be well complemented at an operational level ... In any case, I ardently wish it !

La France a livré les premiers avions Mirage 2000-5F à l'Ukraine

Une annonce de Sébastien Lecornu, ministre des Armées, permet de confirmer que les premiers avions de combat Mirage 2000-5F promis par la France sont désormais en Ukraine. Cet avion de combat, spécialement développé pour la chasse aérienne, a été modifié par la France pour l’Ukraine afin...

air-cosmos.com