Ukrainian Air Force: F-16s have shot down more than 3,150 Russian air targets and carried out more than 650 ground strikes

The Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter jets are engaged in air defense operations. One of their main tasks is to intercept Russian cruise missiles and attack drones.

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] Ukrainian Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko revealed that Ukrainian F-16 pilots have shot down more than 3,150 Russian air targets, including 666 cruise missiles and about 2,500 attack drones.

The military defense website "Defence Blog" reported that Krivonozhko announced the above figures during a meeting with representatives of the U.S. Lockheed Martin (Lockheed Martin) led by a Ukrainian Air Force delegation. He also said that Ukrainian F-16s have carried out more than 650 strikes against Russian ground targets. However, the Ukrainian Air Force did not explain the time and place of the meeting, nor did it explain the exact time period covered by the above-mentioned results statistics.

F-16 also often uses its cannon to attack drones

Krivonozhko said that despite the limited supply of weapons, Ukrainian pilots still maximize the performance of the F-16 by matching different types of ammunition. The report pointed out that the Ukrainian army currently mainly uses F-16s provided by the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium to intercept Russian cruise missiles and "Shahed" attack drones targeting cities and power grids. Some tasks will use cannons and short-range missiles to save on more expensive weapons.

Conor McGuire, Lockheed Martin's director of F-16 combat development, praised the performance of Ukrainian pilots and ground crews in operating F-16s and said the company will assist Ukraine in improving the capabilities of its current F-16s. The two sides also discussed the possibility of Ukraine switching to newer F-16s in the future, including the F-16 Block 70/72.

The F-16 Block 70/72 is the latest model currently produced by Lockheed Martin. It is manufactured in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. It is equipped with the AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which can track more targets at longer distances. It also has new cockpit display equipment and longer airframe structural life. The F-16s currently used by Ukraine are provided by European countries. They are older models and were upgraded in the 2000s.

Ukraine is also seeking fighters other than F-16s. In October 2025, Ukraine signed a letter of intent with Sweden for up to 150 Gripen E fighter jets, and in November signed a similar agreement with France for up to 100 Rafale fighter jets. However, sources pointed out that neither agreement has yet resulted in the delivery of fighter jets.