The Ukrainian Air Force is actively employing multirole F-16 fighters to counter enemy air threats. As one pilot with the callsign AB — deputy commander of a Ukrainian fighter wing — told Air and Space Forces Magazine, his unit has downed more than 1,000 long-range drones, including Shaheds, as well as various types of cruise missiles.
To date, Ukrainian F-16 crews have carried out hundreds of successful air engagements, repelling combined missile-and-drone attacks by russian forces.
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According to the U.S. defense outlet, although Ukraine's F-16s are not the latest variants and are operating in conditions "that would challenge even advanced air forces," Ukrainian pilots are demonstrating impressive performance in both air-to-air combat and strike missions.
The report highlights that pilots and ground crews — working with limited external support — have developed innovative tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of Ukraine's F-16 fleet.
Pilot AB emphasized that Ukraine urgently needs more advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems and countermeasures, given the rapid evolution of this domain on the enemy's side.
For maximum effectiveness, Ukraine also requires Block 70/72 (F-16V) aircraft and larger stocks of compatible air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions.
Finally, the article underscores Ukraine's real-world implementation of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) — dispersing air assets, operating from austere airfields, and maintaining combat readiness under constant enemy strikes. In practice, Ukraine appears to be the first nation to apply ACE at scale under live combat conditions against a capable adversary — a model now being studied and adopted by the U.S. Air Force and others.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that to increase the combat effectiveness of Ukraine's F-16s, the United States commissioned specialized technical documentation worth $26 million.
Read more: Ukrainian Air Force Showcases F-16 Fighter Jets in Action During Latest russian Attack
