The U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcon hasn't been able to turn the tide for Ukraine in its war against Russia, but the multirole all-weather fighter has increased Kyiv's defensive capabilities significantly. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed that last month a pilot shot down six missiles in a single sortie.

"For the first time in the history of the Fighting Falcon, an F-16 fighter jet destroyed six Russian cruise missiles in one combat mission," the Ukrainian Air Force Command said in a post on Facebook.

According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat, the action took place on December 13, 2024, when Moscow's forces launched 200 drones and 94 missiles at targets in Ukraine.

"They say that even Americans couldn't believe you did it," Ihnat added, while the post explained that the pilot – who has not been identified – closed in on a group of cruise missiles. Despite their electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures, the pilot was able to down one pair of the Russian weapons with his medium-range missiles, while he struck another pair with short-range missiles.

Two more missiles were shot down with the F-16's cannon, believed to be the first time it was accomplished. As Newsweek reported, while the Ukrainian aviators have been trained "to shoot down missiles with aircraft cannons in simulations," it had not been previously carried out.

"At first I was looking for a target at the bottom - nothing. Then I reached the altitude, raised the radar and saw her. Did everything as taught instructors in the USA, as worked on a gym. A few cannon turns - and a blast... then there is one more! Detonation again," the pilot claimed.

The destruction was confirmed by Ukraine's Air Force Command.

"Based on objective control, we have one hundred percent confirmation that for the first time in history in anti-air combat, an American fighter F-16 shoots down six winged missiles, two of them [from] an air cannon," Ihnat added.

Gunfight Over Ukraine

According to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, maker of the F-16 Gatling Gun System, the 20mm weapon "features the M61A1 six-barrel Gatling gun and a linkless ammunition feed system. The M61A1 provides up to 10 times the reliability of single-barrel guns, firing at 6,000 shots per minute and placing a controlled dispersion of projectiles in the path of the target. The double-ended linkless ammunition feed system incorporates a compact lightweight composite rotary ammunition drum to store unfired and fired ammunition."

The Fighting Falcon is able to carry 511 rounds of 20mm ammunition, and given the high rate of fire, pilots must employ short bursts.

More F-16s Coming

Kyiv is set to receive as many as ninety American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft – and it is reported that around two dozen of the fighters are now in service. Multiple NATO members including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have pledged to provide the aircraft, which are being replaced by more advanced fighters – notably, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

The first F-16s arrived in August, and the fighters were quickly put into action.

However, even as additional aircraft are headed to Ukraine, there have been concerns that pilot training is already being rushed, and even further abridged to get more aircraft in the sky. It would appear that at least one Ukrainian aviator took all of the lessons to heart by downing the six missiles, including the two with the 20mm autocannon.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

Image: Wikimedia Commons.