Ukraine loses a third F‑16, but the pilot ejects to safety

Preliminary reports indicate that the pilot successfully neutralised three airborne threats and was preparing to engage a fourth using the aircraft’s cannon. At that point, an unexpected issue arose on board. The pilot steered the plane away from populated areas before ejecting.

It was also noted that, due to the swift actions of the search and rescue team, the pilot was promptly located and evacuated. His life and health are not at risk.

This is the third such loss for the defending army, but for the first time, a Ukrainian pilot of a downed F-16 was able to save his life.

The first F-16 was lost on the front in August 2024, likely due to friendly fire. The second aircraft of this type was shot down by the Russians in April 2025 (unofficially attributed to an S-400 anti-aircraft missile or an R-37 air-to-air missile). The Ukrainians will appoint a special commission to "objectively explain all circumstances" of the third F-16 loss.

The F-16s are currently the most valuable combat aircraft of the Ukrainians, significantly surpassing the capabilities of the Soviet-era planes they relied on at the outbreak of the war. The first F-16s arrived in Ukraine at the end of July 2024.

Western allies deliver modified F-16A/B MLU (Mid-Life Update) variants to the front, machines upgraded in the 1990s. Compared to older variants, they feature better radars and compatibility with a more diverse range of armaments. As a result, the F-16s used by Ukrainians can carry AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with a range of about 100 kilometres.

So far, allies (a coalition of Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium) have committed to delivering approximately 60 F-16s to Ukraine. However, some deliveries and schedules are kept secret, so the number of F-16s currently serving the Ukrainians is unknown. Unofficially, analysts point to about 15-18 units.