At the same time, Ukraine also published interesting statistics on the use of the F-16 in combat.
A rather unique video from Ukraine appeared on social networks, which captures a Ukrainian F-16 fighter in pursuit of a Russian Kh-101 missile. According to experts, this is a rather risky tactic.
Since the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine, these aircraft have become a key element in the fight against Russian missiles, or by drone. If possible, they destroy such targets with their own cannon.
Defense24 experts warned that this tactic is very risky. Especially because maneuvering to hit a drone carries with it the risk of damage to the warplane itself, for example by fragments from its warhead.
Now it’s possible to see how this tactic looks in practice:
Experts also note that laser-guided APKWS missiles, for example, would be ideal for destroying drones. The F-16 can carry several such cheap and effective missiles, but Ukrainian machines have not yet been integrated with this arsenal.
More than a year in Ukraine. Kyiv published interesting numbers about the use of the F-16
In connection with the F-16 fighters, it is worth noting that the Ukrainian Air Force Command recently published the results of the effectiveness of its flagship F-16 aircraft, more than a year after their delivery from the West.
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Ukraine officially presented its F-16 aircraft in August 2024, just before the start of the operation in the Kursk region on the territory of Russia. American machines were supplied by European allies and immediately became an important part of Ukrainian air defense.
According to Ukrainian reports, F-16s have reportedly already intercepted and shot down more than 1,300 aerial targets, including remotely piloted drones and various types of guided missiles.
The Ukrainian Air Force also confirmed that F-16s were actively involved in attacks on Russian ground targets. Ukrainian pilots destroyed more than 300 ground targets, including hundreds of enemy vehicles, command posts, drone control centers, ammunition depots and key logistics hubs.
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In addition to the F-16, Soviet machines such as the Su-27, Su-25 and MiG-29 are also used in these operations, which are equipped with accurate Western aerial munitions. In addition to American JDAM/JDAM ER bombs, French AASM Hammer charges and highly dangerous SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles supplied by France and Great Britain are also used. These rockets were used in November 2024 in the attack on the underground headquarters of the Russian and North Korean troops in the Kursk region.
According to official statements, four European countries have promised to supply F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. Norway and the Netherlands have already finished deliveries (the last shipment from Amsterdam arrived in May 2025), Denmark handed over 12 of the planned 19 machines by February 2025. Belgium will begin deliveries of operational aircraft in early 2026, which is related to the transition to the new F-35 fleet.
In more than a year of deployment at the front, Ukraine has confirmed the loss of three F-16s. This means that in November 2025, less than 50 of these aircraft are deployed in battles against Russia.
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