Forbes: Ukrainian F-16s have made their first strikes

F-16 fighter jets delivered to Ukraine by its Western allies have scored “their first air victories” – three weeks after the first promised aircraft was delivered to the country, the American magazine a to write Forbes.

F-16s were deployed to shoot down Russian cruise missiles during the massive attack on Monday, August 26, explained the head of state of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to Forbes analyst David Ax, it was obvious from the beginning that the Ukrainian Air Force would use the F-16 for air defense, since it is equipped with air-to-air guided missiles AIM- 9 and AIM-120, but not with air-to-ground missiles, although they are largely compatible with the best anti-radar missiles in the West and GPS-guided bombs.

It is reasonable for F-16s to patrol for air defense purposes, Forbes writes. Ukraine is under constant air attacks and its armed forces are using all available resources to fight the daily attacks.

Although these are not the most advanced air-to-air missiles, they are reliable and are in the arsenals of Ukraine’s allies in service next year.

At the same time, the use of the F-16 will expand, the editors added.

“The first flights of Ukrainian F-16s were directed against Russian cruise missiles that cannot return fire. As fighter jets arrive and the missions of the Ukrainian Air Force expand, F-16s can engage targets that they can fire in response: fighters and air defense batteries of the Russian Air Force,” the publication said. summarizing.