Washington Post
• Mark Montgomery
Ukraine may be able to use its F-16 fleet to target Russian ballistic-missile launchers within weeks, but the effort depends on Washington authorizing or enabling a specific capability. The potential mission would expand the aircraft’s role beyond conventional air operations into counter-launcher missions.
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Ukraine may be able to use its F-16 fleet to target Russian ballistic-missile launchers within weeks, but the effort depends on Washington authorizing or enabling a specific capability. The potential mission would expand the aircraft’s role beyond conventional air operations into counter-launcher missions.
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Ukraine says its F-16s have destroyed more than 2,500 one-way attack drones, but repeated interceptions are wearing down the small fleet. The EU has disbursed €3.47 billion ($4 billion) to fund additional drones, air-defence missiles and Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, amid renewed Russian missile and drone attacks that killed nine, including children. NATO is also investigating a reported Russian missile hit into Polish airspace.
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Romania reported its first-ever NATO-member case of firing on a drone after a Shahed-type incursion, with an F-16AM cleared to engage from the alliance’s air operations center over Buzău county. Separately, a top US general said a Ukrainian F-16 achieved the country’s first air-to-air kill—an air-defense milestone as the two air forces field more F-16 capability.
Ukraine’s F-16 has downed a Russian fighter jet for the first time, with the kill confirmed by the top U.S. general. The engagement is described as another sign of Kyiv’s improving air power, executed by one of the oldest fighter platforms in the air combat inventory.
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told lawmakers that a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian Su-35S in early July, marking the first recorded F-16 air-to-air victory for Ukraine. The announcement underscores shifting air combat effectiveness as Ukraine continues expanding its F-16 role.
Elbit Systems says a sensor update can deliver “fifth-gen”-style situational awareness and self-protection capability to operators of legacy fighters such as the Lockheed Martin F-16. The Israeli defense firm is showcasing the technology at the Farnborough Airshow, positioning it as a retrofit path to modern survivability.
The Air Force has halted the competition for new ejection seats for the F-16, setting up a final decision within 90 days on whether the service should proceed with competing for the replacement deal. The pause follows a prior Air Force move to reopen the Next Generation Ejection Seat program.
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NORAD reported that F-16 fighters intercepted multiple general aviation aircraft that entered temporary restricted airspace over Bedminster and East Rutherford, New Jersey, as the World Cup final was held at MetLife Stadium. Jets were scrambled three times and used flares to alert pilots while completing the intercepts.
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