For the first time, an F-16 has destroyed six enemy cruise missiles in a single combat sortie, according to Ihnat.

A Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot set a record for shooting down enemy missiles during one of Russia's mass attacks on Ukraine. He destroyed six enemy cruise missiles in a single combat sortie.

This was reported by Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, the head of the public relations service of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to him, this incident occurred during a large-scale shelling on December 13, when the Russians launched nearly 200 drones, "Kinzhal" missiles, and more than 90 other types of rockets at Ukraine. During such attacks, the primary target for the F-16 is indeed cruise missiles.

Ihnat explained that the F-16 pilot initially used all four air-to-air missiles. In this way, he shot down four Russian cruise missiles. However, the pilot spotted another target and decided to use the aircraft's cannon.

"Shooting down cruise missiles with a cannon is very risky due to the high speed of the target and the danger of detonation. But I acted according to the training I received from instructors in the USA, and I managed to hit. As it turned out, two missiles flying close to each other were destroyed simultaneously," the pilot told Ihnat.

The Air Force noted that this case is unique: for the first time in history, an F-16 pilot destroyed six cruise missiles in one sortie, two of which were downed using the aircraft's cannon.

At the same time, Ihnat emphasized that despite the fact that Ukraine received not the most modern modifications of the F-16, Ukrainian pilots demonstrate exceptional skills every day, making the most of the available technology.

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that a Russian Su-34 bomber was shot down over Ukraine. According to military bloggers, Ukrainian forces reportedly shot down a Russian Su-34 using a Western F-16 aircraft. However, there have been no official statements regarding this matter.