CaliToday (21/9/2025): The Ukrainian Air Force has released the first official combat footage of its newly operational F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, showcasing the long-awaited, U.S.-made aircraft in their role defending the nation's skies against a large-scale Russian air assault.
The video, which circulated on official military channels on Sunday, marks a significant milestone in Ukraine's defense capabilities. It provides the first visual confirmation of the F-16s' active participation in combat since their delivery and integration into the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to a statement from the Air Force, the F-16s played a "decisive role" in repelling a major Russian strike on the night of September 20. The footage reportedly captures moments from combat sorties flown to intercept incoming Russian cruise missiles and attack drones.
The Ukrainian military detailed that Russia had launched another mass air attack using a combination of Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles and waves of Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones, targeting critical infrastructure and urban centers across multiple Ukrainian cities. F-16s were scrambled as part of the comprehensive air defense effort, successfully engaging and neutralizing a number of the incoming threats.
A Critical Capability Upgrade
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has heroically defended its airspace with a fleet of aging, Soviet-era aircraft, primarily consisting of MiG-29 Fulcrums and Su-27 Flankers. At the start of the war, Ukraine's effective combat fleet numbered no more than 69 airframes.
While Ukrainian pilots skillfully adapted these legacy fighters for modern air defense tasks—even integrating some NATO-supplied munitions—they were fundamentally outmatched by Russia's more advanced aircraft and were limited by older radar and sensor technology. The push to acquire Western fourth-generation fighters like the F-16 was driven by the urgent need for superior sensors, seamless integration with advanced NATO weapons, and enhanced pilot survivability.
The operational debut of the F-16s represents the culmination of more than a year of intensive pilot and ground crew training in several partner nations.
By revealing this combat footage, the Air Force of Ukraine is sending a powerful, multi-layered message. Internally, it serves as a major morale boost. Externally, it demonstrates to Western partners that their significant investment in providing these advanced systems is yielding tangible results on the battlefield. It also serves as a clear signal to Moscow that Ukraine's ability to defend its skies has entered a new and more formidable chapter, directly countering Russia's strategy of targeting cities and critical infrastructure from the air.
