Ukrainian Air Force Reports Su-35S Shot Down Over Kursk
The Ukrainian Air Force announced the downing of a Russian Su-35S in enemy territory.
On June 7, the Ukrainian Air Force announced the downing of a Russian Su-35S fighter jet over the Kursk region, deep inside the Russian Federation. The statement, published through its official channels, emphasized that the aircraft was destroyed by a Ukrainian fighter. While no specific details were provided regarding the type of aircraft or the weapon used, sources close to the government in Kyiv suggested that the strike was carried out by an F-16, likely using a long-range AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile.
If confirmed, this would mark the first documented kill of a Russian aircraft by a Ukrainian F-16, representing a new milestone in Ukraine’s growing air combat capabilities. The fact that the incident took place inside Russian territory underscores Kyiv’s increasing willingness to extend its aerial operations into areas that Moscow previously considered relatively secure.
Visual Evidence and Crash Site Confirmation
Shortly after the announcement, the OSINT account Clash Report shared a video recorded by Russian rescue teams at the crash site. The footage shows the scorched remains of the Su-35S in a wooded area, with parts of the fuselage still smoldering. According to Russian media, the pilot successfully ejected and was recovered alive.
This would be the eighth Su-35S downed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022—an important loss given that it is the most advanced air superiority fighter currently in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces. Outfitted with a powerful PESA radar and active-radar homing R-77 missiles, the Su-35S plays a central role in Moscow’s efforts to maintain air dominance, particularly along the front lines and border zones.
F-16 + AEW&C Combo?
Although neither Ukraine nor Russia has officially confirmed the involvement of an F-16, multiple OSINT sources point to this platform as the likely culprit. This theory is supported by recent reports of the operational deployment of F-16s transferred by the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as the potential use of Swedish ASC 890 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, capable of detecting aerial targets over 400 kilometers away.
The integration of F-16 fighters with early warning platforms and networked data links would represent a significant qualitative leap compared to the more limited capabilities of Ukraine’s legacy MiG-29s and Su-27s, bringing Kyiv closer to NATO-style air warfare.
So far, Ukraine has received a limited number of F-16s—some of which may have already been destroyed in Russian strikes—but appears determined to maximize their value by pairing Western technology with allied intelligence support.
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AUTOR
Apasionado por la aviación, la historia, la política y la defensa. Editor-in-Chief en Aviacionline Defensa, combinando estos conocimiento para ofrecer un contenido valioso sobre temas estratégicos y de seguridad.
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