Ukrainian F-16s shot down about ten air targets during a massive Russian attack

F-16 multi-role fighter jets of the Ukrainian Air Force shot down about ten air targets while repelling a massive air attack on Ukraine in the morning of November 17.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported on this.

“Today, our F-16 pilots shot down about ten air targets. The aftermath of the combined attack on our infrastructure in the Rivne, Lviv, Dnipro, Volyn, and Odesa regions are being eliminated,” the statement reads.

During the combined attack, Russian troops used various types of air-, land-, and sea-launched missiles, as well as Shahed (Geran-2) attack drones.

Massive combined attack on October 17

According to preliminary data, the radio engineering troops of the Ukrainian Air Forces detected and escorted 210 enemy air targets – 120 missiles and 90 UAVs.

It is reported that the enemy used one 3M22 Zircon hypersonic ship missile, eight Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 101 Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, and one Iskander-M ballistic missile.

In addition, the enemy used four Kh-22/Kh-31P cruise/anti-radar missiles, five Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missiles, and 90 attack UAVs/drones of unspecified type.

The air attack involved seven Tu-160 and sixteen Tu-95MS strategic bombers, two Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, five Su-34 fighter-bombers, four Su-27 fighter aircraft, ten MiG-31K fighter jets, and four cruise missile carriers.

According to preliminary data, 144 air targets have been shot down – 102 missiles and 42 UAVs.

Ukrainian F-16s in air defense

Ukraine’s F-16 multi-role fighter jets have become an effective addition to its air defense. Militarnyi has repeatedly described the capabilities of these aircraft in the fight against Russian air attack.

Currently, the most common weapon system for the F-16 is a combination of short-range AIM-9 missiles and medium-range AIM-120 missiles.

This combination provides a wide range of air combat capabilities at various ranges, ensuring enemy targets’ interception both beyond the line of sight and in close air combat.

In addition, in close combat, the aircraft can use a 20-mm six-barrel M61 Vulcan cannon with 512 rounds of ammunition.

However, it is still worth noting that the AIM-9X missile is most likely to be used to intercept cruise missiles and drones. Since 2005, it has become the primary short-range missile for most F-16s worldwide.

The new MK-139 engine has significantly increased the missile’s maximum range to 30 km (21 km in the M version) against a stationary target and significantly increased its maximum speed.

Thanks to advanced avionics with the ability to use the Link-16 information exchange system, the pilot can launch missiles using external targeting.