Ukrainian F‑16 pilot achieves Top Gun‑like missile feat
Ukrainians have a new "Ghost of Kyiv," who performs feats reminiscent of a Top Gun movie script. The Ukrainian pilot shot down six targets during a single combat mission using only four missiles. We explore the details of this achievement and review the capabilities of the aircraft involved.
Aside from a handful of F-16A/B MLU aircraft, the Ukrainian military aviation consists of the remnants of the MiG-29 and Su-27 fleet. The F-16 jets, supplied by countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, are primarily used by Ukraine for targeting drones and cruise missiles. There have also been instances of intercepting aircraft such as the Su-34.
According to an official communication from Ukrainian aviation, on December 13 at 6 PM Eastern Time, one F-16 aircraft achieved a historic shootdown of six Russian cruise missiles during a mission. The pilot utilized all four carried air-to-air missiles and the onboard six-barrel M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm cannon to accomplish this.
This achievement can be compared to the famous air combat scenes involving onboard cannons from Top Gun movies, at a distance of several hundred metres. In the case of the Ukrainian F-16, it also had to get very close to the missiles, likely of the Kh-101 type, flying just above the ground at a speed of Mach 0.9.
F-16 for Ukraine — Cold War veterans that scare Russia
The aircraft transferred to Ukraine are F-16AM/BM models, which underwent a Mid-Life Update (MLU) in the 1990s. Moreover, the units for Ukraine have been stripped of certain equipment reserved for NATO members and have been additionally modified, significantly enhancing their capabilities beyond those of the standard MLU versions.
The Ukrainian versions were reportedly integrated with modern weaponry, including the French AASM Hammer bombs, and equipped with advanced targeting pods like the AN/ASQ-213 HTS. These pods provided capabilities for using anti-radiation missiles such as the AGM-88 HARM.
Changes likely included radars like the AN/APG-66 or AN/APG-68, with the possibility of even incorporating newer options such as the AN/APG-83 SABR, which have superior properties. The result is a machine classified between the basic F-16A/B MLU models and the newer 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 7,000 kilograms. However, the two pylons located at the wingtips are specifically designated for short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Additionally, it is common practice for two to three pylons under the fuselage to have targeting pods and fuel tanks installed, leaving only six wing pylons for additional ordnance like AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles or bombs.
