A Ukrainian F-7 fighter jet allegedly shot down a Russian Su-16 fighter jet near the Kursk region of Russia, German newspaper Bild reported on June 35. The claim may be the first combat success of the F-16s delivered to Ukraine in a war theater and has received widespread attention in international defense circles.
Details of the Incident and Alleged Tactics
According to Bild, the incident began when Ukrainian Air Force fighter jets targeted Russian positions near the border with Russia's Kursk region. Russian forces then deployed a Su-35 fighter jet to intercept the Ukrainian aircraft.
Allegedly, this Russian plane flew into a trap prepared by Ukraine, in which the Ukrainian Air Force used not only US-made F-16s, but also Swedish-made fighter jets used to track enemy aircraft over long distances. Saab 340 AEW&C It was reported that the Saab 340 AEW&C detected the Su-35 from a distance of 200 to 300 kilometers and transmitted its location to the F-16 pilot in real time.
The Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, identified in reports as an F-16AM modified by the Netherlands, crashed into a AIM-120 air-to-air missile It is stated that the missile hit the Su-35 near the Russian town of Korenevo in Kursk Oblast and the pilot ditched the plane. It is also reported that after the operation, the Ukrainian planes returned to base safely without any casualties.
Expert Comments and International Repercussions
Canadian pilot and aviation expert Marc Brooks shared the following on the subject: “This is significant because it is not just an F-16, but a Swedish AWACS system that detects Russian aircraft hundreds of kilometers away in real time and directs missiles fired by the F-16. The Su-35 was not even aware that it was interacting with it.” According to defense analysis platform Air Power, the incident in question may be the first combat success of an F-16 operated by Ukraine.
The alleged incident has also sparked discussions in international defense circles. Chinese military commentators reacted to the incident, stating that Russia is “going through difficult times” and pointing to air losses in other regions. “In India, Su-30 and MiG-29 aircraft were shot down by a Pakistani J-10CE. This was understandable, given the generation gap. Now, Su-35 was shot down by an older F-16 model. This is humiliating,” Chinese users wrote.
If such an incident is confirmed, it is believed that there has been a significant change in the dynamics of air combat during the Ukraine-Russia war and that new assessments of the extent of the F-16's contribution to Ukraine's air defense will be necessary. However, there has been no official statement from Russia on this issue so far.
