Ukrainian F-16s may have participated in their first combat actions on August 26, 2024, during what was described as the largest Russian air raid against Ukraine to date, involving a total of 127 missiles and 109 one-way attack drones. In a live-streamed event with the press, Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed that the F-16s were involved in the defense and shot down an unspecified number of cruise missiles.

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One of the first F-16s delivered to Ukraine.(Picture source: Ukrainian Air Force)

On August 26, 2024, Russia launched a massive wave of attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with explosions also reported in Kyiv. Among the weapons used were the Iskander-M/KN-23 ground-to-ground ballistic missile, Kinzhal ALBM air-to-ground ballistic missile, Kh-22/32 ALCM air-to-ground cruise missile, Kh-101 ALCM air-to-ground cruise missile, 3M-14 Kalibr SLCM sea-launched cruise missile, Kh-59/69 ALCM air-to-ground cruise missile, and the Shahed-136 OWA-UAS one-way attack drone.

Details of the F-16s' participation in the defensive effort have not been disclosed, other than the fact that the American-made fighter managed to shoot down a number of missiles. The aircraft delivered to Ukraine are currently equipped with the AIM-120B AMRAAM, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder, and the 20mm M61 Vulcan internal cannon, all of which have already been used against similar targets on other occasions, such as in the defense of Israel.

President Volodymyr Zelensky first announced that Ukraine had received its first batch of F-16 fighter jets on August 4, 2024. A ceremony was held at an undisclosed location, with the aircraft positioned alongside him, and another pair flying overhead. The number of delivered aircraft has not been disclosed, but it appears they are former Dutch aircraft. In total, Ukraine is expected to receive around 91 F-16s, in both single-seat AM and two-seat BM versions.

The arrival of the F-16s, long anticipated, represents a significant milestone for Ukraine, although the exact number of available aircraft and their impact on air defense and battlefield effectiveness remain uncertain. For now, it seems that the F-16s will only be used in an air defense role, although they are expected to play an air-to-ground role later in the future.

Images released so far by the Ukrainian Air Force show the fighters armed with AIM-120B AMRAAM and AIM-9L/M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, along with two 370-gallon external fuel tanks and Terma PIDS+ (Pylon Integrated Dispensing System) pylons, which also include UV missile warning sensors. Zelensky emphasized that the transition to Western combat aviation marked a new phase for the Ukrainian Air Force, achieved through significant diplomatic efforts. The Ukrainian Air Force, which previously relied on outdated Soviet-era aircraft, had been outmatched by Russia's superior fleet, allowing it to conduct large-scale missile strikes and support its eastern frontlines with guided bombs.

The F-16s delivered to Ukraine are already compatible with many Western weapons integrated into Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft and will be able to use these weapons more effectively. Reports mention that Ukrainian F-16s could also have the capability to use the AGM-158 JASSM in the future.

The versatile and multirole F-16s will augment and eventually replace the Soviet-era fighters, which have been modified to use Western-supplied weapons such as the JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition), AGM-88 HARM (High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile), ADM-160 MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy), and the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG ALCM (Air-Launched Cruise Missile), although these modifications have encountered some difficulties.