Breaking News: Ukraine's F-16 Pilots Achieve Historic Air-to-Air Victory Over Russian Su-35

The world witnessed a historic moment in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict when Ukraine's F-16 pilots reportedly shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in air-to-air combat. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Ukraine's air force, demonstrating their capabilities and prowess in the skies. According to reports, the Su-35 was shot down on July 8, and the Ukrainian F-16 that scored the hit is believed to have been an advanced jet equipped with cutting-edge technology.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, broke the news in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday. 'I'll note that recently we had the first air-to-air kill where a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter,' Gen. Caine said. 'So I think their ability to scale their layered air defense has come a long, long way over the past couple of years with the help and assistance of many.' While Gen. Caine did not confirm the type of Russian fighter that was shot down, the incident has been confirmed in Russian media as the downing of an Su-35S.

Ukraine's F-16s, primarily sourced from the Netherlands and Denmark, are more comparable to the aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force in the early 2000s, rather than the much more modern and capable F-16Cs and Ds in service for the United States today. On the other hand, the Su-35 is among the most modern fighters in Russian service, boasting powerful new AL-41F-1S engines and thrust-vectoring nozzles that provide incredible aerobatic capabilities. The Su-35's Irbis-E radar system is also a significant threat to Ukraine's F-16s, with a detection range for targets with a radar cross section of three square meters (which is smaller than an F-16AM) of a whopping 400 kilometers.

The radar disparity between the Su-35 and Ukraine's F-16s is most apparent in terms of maximum detection ranges of fighter-sized targets. Ukraine's F-16s should be able to detect fighters from as far out as 83 kilometers in the presence of jamming, and likely a bit better than 150 kilometers without electronic warfare interference. This means that in a beyond-visual-range (BVR) fight, the Su-35 would have a significant advantage due to its longer detection range.

Conversely, the Su-35 also has the advantage in terms of beyond-visual-range weapons. The most advanced BVR weapons Ukrainian F-16s carry, to the public's knowledge, are AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, which have a reported range of somewhere between 75 and 100 miles. The Su-35 often carries Russia's R-77M, with a reported range of 120 miles. This means that the Russian fighter can detect the F-16 first and fire its first shot before the F-16 can respond in kind.

However, performance specs and hardware are not the only variables that determine combat outcomes. The circumstances of the engagement, supporting aircraft and systems, pilot skill level and training, and more can all tip the scales decidedly in one direction or the other. Warfare is a complex and dynamic environment, and the better jet doesn't always win, and the worse jet doesn't always lose. Context is king in warfare.

The implications of this historic victory are far-reaching and significant. It demonstrates the capabilities and prowess of Ukraine's air force, and marks a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict. This achievement could potentially shift the balance of power in the skies, and have a lasting impact on the war effort. As the conflict continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how this news affects the trajectory of the war.

Looking to the future, this achievement highlights the importance of air power in modern warfare. The ability to project power and dominate the skies is a crucial component of military strategy, and Ukraine's F-16 pilots have demonstrated their mastery of this skill. As the world continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, the importance of air power will only continue to grow.

Feature Image: A pair of Ukrainian F-16s, January 2026. (Air Force Command of Armed Forces of Ukraine)

Alex Hollings is a writer, dad, and Marine veteran.

*The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.