A Ukrainian Air Force F-16 pilot achieved an unprecedented feat during a massive Russian missile attack on December 13, 2024, successfully intercepting six cruise missiles in a single combat sortie. This marks the first time in the history of the F-16 Fighting Falcon that a pilot has accomplished such a remarkable achievement.
During the intense mission, the pilot initially engaged four incoming missiles using the aircraft's complete arsenal of air-to-air missiles. After depleting the missile supply, the pilot demonstrated extraordinary skill by downing two additional cruise missiles using only the aircraft's cannon - a highly dangerous maneuver given the missiles' high speed of over 650 kilometers per hour.
"A few bursts from the cannon - and an explosion... then another one!" recalled the pilot, whose identity remains classified. The pilot credited recent U.S. training for the successful engagement, noting that while Ukrainian forces had practiced missile interception with cannons in simulators, this was the first successful combat application.
The historic achievement occurred during a large-scale Russian aerial assault involving approximately 200 drones and 94 missiles targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat emphasized the exceptional risk involved in engaging cruise missiles with cannon fire, particularly due to the danger of detonation from the missiles' 450-kilogram warheads.
The mission showcased the effectiveness of Ukraine's accelerated F-16 training program, which has been shortened by three months to expedite deployment of newly acquired jets from Denmark and the Netherlands. Despite operating with earlier F-16 variants, Ukrainian pilots continue to demonstrate remarkable proficiency in defending against Russian aggression.
This achievement represents a major milestone in Ukraine's air defense capabilities and highlights the growing expertise of Ukrainian pilots transitioning from Soviet-era aircraft to Western platforms.