Summary Ukrainian F-16s successfully intercepted Russian missiles in recent attack. US optimized F-16s for electronic warfare to defend against Russian threats. Around 91 retired F-16s will slowly arrive in Ukraine from various countries to bolster defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine's F-16s were used to defend the skies from the latest massive Russian missile barrage. Ukraine recently received the first ten or so of its much anticipated F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands and Denmark. As expected, these jets have kept a low profile as Ukraine incorporates them into its armed forces and works them up.
This comes as little surprise as the delivered F-16s were seen fitted with air defense missiles and systems . Ukraine uses F-16s to defend Ukrainian air space Ukraine war blogger WarTranslated posted on X (formerly Twitter), " Zelensky says F-16s ('s) were used to shoot down Russian missiles during the last major attack. " Russia launched a massive attack.
According to another open-source account, Intelschizo , the missile attack was the largest stand-off weapon attack of the 21st Century. Russia launched 327 missiles and drones. Many of them were intercepted.
The Ukrainian MOD claims to have intercepted 1/6 Kinzhal Aero-Ballistic Missiles, 1/3 Kh-22 Missiles, 1/8 Iskander-M/K, KN-23 Ballistic Missiles 104/120 X-101, Kalibr, Kh-59/69 Missiles 159/190 Shahed UAVs. Ukraine claims to have intercepted 266 out of 327 missiles and drones fired. It is impossible to verify these numbers independently, but open-source accounts counted around 56 explosions nationwide and there is extensive damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
It is also unclear which missiles or drones the F-16s shot down. Retired French jets will arrive in Ukraine by the end of 2024 after only 5 to 6 months of pilot training. US optimized Ukraine's F-16s for EW Meanwhile, The War Zone reported that the US Air Force had optimized Ukraine's first batch of F-16s electronic warfare systems before they arrived in the country to defend against Russian threats.
This was led (in cooperation with Denmark and Norway) by the 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron at Elgin Air Force Base in Florida (part of the service's 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing). The War Zone states, " As part of ongoing collaboration on this front, the Ukrainians will pass data they collect in real combat back to the United States to help further refine and improve electronic warfare capabilities available to both countries, as well as other allies and partners ." The war in Ukraine is being closely watched and studied by militaries around the world.
Many militaries are drawing lessons and adapting to the fast-paced evolution of war. A total of around 91 retired F-16s are pledged to slowly arrive in Ukraine over the coming years from the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium. The Dutch have just pledged an extra 6 F-16s.
It is possible or likely around 30 retired Greek F-16s could find their way to Ukraine as well (plus some retired Greece French-made Mirage 2000s)..
