Ukrainian fighter F-16 shot down enemy Su-35 in the Kursk direction - Bild.

Ukrainian Air Force shot down Russian Su-35 with F-16 aircraft

Ukraine achieved a historic victory by shooting down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet with a Western F-16 aircraft. The air combat took place in the Kursk direction on June 7. The pilot of the Ukrainian aircraft detected the hostile Su-35 and destroyed it, ensuring a safe return to base without losses.

According to Bild, the combat encounter occurred over northeastern Ukraine, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine used aircraft to strike enemy positions. The Russian fighter was left defenseless as it was subjected to an attack by Ukrainian fighters in collaboration with the Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C.

«It is not just about the F-16 - the real game-changer was the Swedish AWACS system, which detects Russian aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away and directs F-16 missiles in real Time. The Su-35 didn't even know it was being attacked,» wrote Mark Brooks.

Other analysts highlight the historical significance of this event, as it marks the first aerial engagement involving a Ukrainian F-16. Some experts had already considered the Dutch F-16AM variant to be outdated, but it successfully carried out the attack on the Russian aircraft.

After this event, the Armed Forces of Ukraine published an interview with the F-16 pilot, where he shares his impressions of the combat actions and the capabilities of his aircraft in the Ukrainian defense.