A Ukrainian F-16 pilot may have set a record by taking out six Russian cruise missiles in a single flight. According to the country’s air force command, the pilot used all four air-to-air missiles on board the jet and an aircraft cannon to intercept the missiles during a massive attack in December.
The target was one of the 94 cruise missiles fired by Russia during the assault, which also included drones and Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. The pilot flew closer to the missile than usual to use two short-range air-to-air missiles, an “extremely dangerous” maneuver.
Two other cruise missiles were targeted using the aircraft cannon, marking a new tactic for Ukrainian F-16 pilots. The pilot applied lessons learned during retraining in the US and has confirmed that this is the first documented case of such a feat in anti-air combat history.
The Ukrainian air force command has verified the report through objective control, confirming that the pilot achieved this remarkable record. This achievement highlights the skill and experience of Ukrainian F-16 pilots in defending against Russian attacks.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-f16-pilot-took-out-six-cruise-missiles-russia-attack-2025-1