Ukrainian pilot's stunning air victory: Top gun in real life
Ukrainians have a new "Ghost of Kyiv," this time pulling off feats reminiscent of a scene from a Top Gun film. The Ukrainian pilot shot down six targets during a single combat mission using only four missiles. We detail this remarkable achievement and the performance of the aircraft involved.
Apart from a handful of F-16A/B MLU aircraft, Ukrainian military aviation consists largely of the MiG-29 and Su-27 fleet remnants. The F-16 jets, supplied by countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, are primarily used by Ukraine for engaging drones and cruise missiles. However, there have been instances of intercepting aircraft, such as the Su-34 aircraft.
According to an official statement by Ukrainian aviation, an F-16 aircraft achieved a historic feat on December 13th by downing six Russian cruise missiles during a mission. The pilot used all four onboard air-to-air missiles and the six-barrel M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm cannon to accomplish this.
This achievement is comparable to Top Gun films' iconic air combat scenes involving close-range engagements. For the Ukrainian F-16, this required getting extremely close to the missiles, likely of the Kh-101 type, flying just above the ground at a speed of approximately 1,100 kilometres per hour (around 685 miles per hour).
F-16 for Ukraine — Cold War veterans intimidating Russia
The aircraft transferred to Ukraine are F-16AM/BM models, which underwent a Mid-Life Update (MLU) in the 1990s. Furthermore, the units for Ukraine have been stripped of some equipment reserved for NATO members and modified to enhance their capabilities beyond what the standard MLU versions offer.
The Ukrainian versions have reportedly been upgraded with modern weaponry, such as the French AASM Hammer bombs, and equipped with advanced targeting pods like the AN/ASQ-213 HTS. These pods offer full capabilities for deploying anti-radiation missiles like the AGM-88 HARM.
Modifications likely also include updates to the radars, using systems such as the AN/APG-66 or AN/APG-68, with the potential for even newer technologies like the AN/APG-83 SABR, which have superior capabilities. The aircraft is positioned between the basic F-16A/B MLU models and the more advanced F-16C/D Block 52+.
The armament of the F-16 includes a six-barrel M61A1 Vulcan cannon of 20 mm calibre and 11 pylons with a total payload capacity of about 7,000 kilograms (approximately 15,400 pounds). However, the two pylons on the wingtips are specifically reserved for short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. It is common practice for 2 to 3 pylons under the fuselage to have targeting pods and fuel tanks installed, leaving only six wing pylons available for additional ordnance like AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles or bombs.
