The Ukraine Air Force has been using Russian-built fighters until they received F-16s amid the Ukraine – Russian war. As such, it seems like the Ukrainians have been able to really provide a strong resistance, even in the air. Just yesterday, news reports have shared that a Ukraine F-16 Fighting Falcon has shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 “Super Flanker”. Come to think of it, Ukraine uses an upgraded F-16A, almost equal to an F-16C block 50/52. However, the Su-35 is a 4.5 generation air superiority fighter with thrust vectoring.
A report from Kyiv Post stated that Ukraine’s new Swedish-built Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform played a role in the successful strike. It either guided the Ukraine F-16 to a location within its tracking range or provided a data link to the missile for midcourse guidance. This capability would only be possible if the F-16 were equipped with Link-16, which it is alleged they were not provided, or with another compatible data link system through unannounced upgrades to the former Dutch F-16AM.
According to the report, the F-16 used AIM-120 AMRAAM to shoot down the Su-35S.
The Ukraine F-16 vs Russian Su-35S
The Ukraine F-16, an F-16AM, is a model originally from the Netherlands, and was supplied to Ukraine with a total of 24 such aircraft. They represent a significant improvement over the Soviet-designed MiG-29s that Ukraine had been operating until recently. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, more than half of Ukraine’s MiG-29 fleet has been lost to more advanced Russian weaponry.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force no longer requires these fighters, having completely phased out its fleet of F-16s in September 2024, with all aircraft replaced by Lockheed Martin F-35s. Although these Dutch planes are older, having first entered service in 1979, they have undergone several upgrades over the years.
If this report is confirmed, it highlights my point that the Lockheed Martin F-16 remains a very dangerous fighter jet, even though it was designed in the 1970s, particularly when operated by highly skilled pilots. The current versions of the F-16, known as Block 70/72 or the F-16V “Viper,” come equipped with advanced features including a glass cockpit with a clear 6″ x 8″ display, an AN/APG-83 scalable agile beam radar, and a full-performance active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radar. Additionally, it can be outfitted with sniper pods, conformal fuel tanks for an extended combat radius, and either the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) or the Scorpion helmet-mounted display.
We must acknowledge the Saab 340 AEW&C, which is an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. This aircraft is an upgraded version of the Saab 340, a twin-engine turboprop airliner. It is equipped with an advanced radar system, typically the Erieye radar, providing wide-area surveillance capabilities for detecting and tracking both air and surface targets. The Saab 340 AEW&C serves various military and special mission roles, including situational awareness, threat warning, and even guiding fighter aircraft.
Although Rooster in Top Gun: Maverick was correct when he said, “It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot,” we cannot overlook the capabilities of the aircraft involved. If the report of a Ukraine F-16 shooting down a Russian Su-35S is accurate, it demonstrates that the F-16 remains a formidable aircraft.
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