Ukrainian F-16 downs Russian fighter jet for first time, US general says
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A Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter jet for the first time, US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told Congress on Tuesday. Caine highlighted the milestone at a Senate hearing on air-defense funding. The kill marks a shift from Ukraine's previous defensive use of F-16s against drones and cruise missiles.
The Kill
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced the first air-to-air kill by a Ukrainian F-16 at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday. He did not specify the Russian aircraft type, but Ukraine's Air Force earlier this month reported shooting down a Su-35 on the eastern front. Pro-Russian military bloggers confirmed a Su-35 was lost and said the pilot ejected safely, while some Russian channels claimed a Patriot battery was responsible.
Technical Disparity
Ukraine's F-16s are rebuilt 1970s- and 1980s-era A and B models, closer to early-2000s US Air Force variants, according to a Sandboxx analysis. The Russian Su-35S features a more advanced Irbis-E radar with a detection range of up to 250 miles and carries longer-range R-77M missiles (roughly 120 miles) versus the AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs (75-100 miles) on Ukrainian F-16s. Despite these disadvantages, Ukraine's F-16s have intercepted 2,200 of roughly 3,000 Russian drones and missiles, per air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat.
Allied Response
Allies have taken note of Kyiv's recent battlefield successes, signing billions in arms contracts with Ukraine since the war with Iran drove up demand for defense technology. Caine praised Ukraine's industrial base for scaling its own capabilities. Russia's defense ministry has not acknowledged the loss.
What's Next
The US Senate is set to continue debating air-defense funding next week. It remains unclear whether Russia will adjust its air tactics following the first F-16 kill.
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Ukrainian F-16 downs Russian fighter jet for first time, US general says
