The Air Forces effectively shoot down Russian missiles and drones thanks to F-16s and new air defense approaches — Defense Express
Attacks by Russia on the territory of Ukraine remain intense: the occupiers use missiles and drones almost daily for massive strikes. At the same time, the Ukrainian Air Forces have significantly increased the effectiveness of their countermeasures.
This was reported by Oleg Katkov, editor-in-chief of Defense Express.
He explained that the high percentage of enemy aerial targets being shot down is associated with a significant improvement in means of countering Russian missiles. According to him, Ukraine has received a sufficient number of 4+ generation fighter jets from its partners, including F-16s.
“Their number has been steadily increasing, and pilot experience has improved. It is important not to forget that, in addition to the hardware, equipment, and weapons themselves, it is crucial who operates all of this,” Katkov noted.
He added that the experience of the personnel directly affects the effectiveness of using the available weapons systems. In particular, fighter jets are the most effective weapon against cruise missiles due to their high mobility.
The Ukrainian Air Forces confirmed the authenticity of a video showing a Ukrainian F-16 shooting down a Shahed enemy drone with an M61A1 Vulcan onboard cannon. The pilot of the 107th Aviation Wing demonstrated high skill, destroying the target at a dangerously close distance.
Katkov emphasized that the fighter jets in Ukraine’s arsenal can perform combat missions in various regions, which significantly increases the percentage of enemy aerial targets intercepted.
The Air Forces reported that Russia is increasingly using ballistic missiles, which are more difficult to intercept than cruise missiles. These can be effectively countered mainly by the Patriot system, but its capabilities are limited by its range and the need to simultaneously repel combined attacks.
According to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, most of the missiles were delivered to Ukraine through the PURL mechanism, which is funded by allies and coordinated by NATO. The program provided a significant portion of ammunition for the front lines and air defense systems.
Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov added that Ukraine has strengthened its air defense by implementing the After Action Review system for detailed analysis of each massive attack and assessment of interception effectiveness. This allows for more precise control of air defense operations and rapid improvement during intensive bombardments.
It is noted that Ukraine is discussing the creation of joint consortia with partners to accelerate the production of anti-ballistic missiles. At the same time, Ukrainian defense companies have the potential to independently produce such systems.
Previously, Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukraine has NASAMS air defense systems in operation, which partially protect the country’s priority facilities.
According to Serhiy Zhovkva, Ukraine needs air defense systems of various calibers, similar to those in Japan. This will allow more effective protection of the country’s airspace and increase overall defense capability.
