Ukrainian F-16 did shoot down a Russian Su 35

A Ukrainian F-16 did shoot down a Russian Su 35 with an air-to-air missile last month. U.S. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, formally acknowledged the milestone air-to-air engagement during a congressional hearing. The German newspaper Bild first reported that a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian Su-35S fighter jet in an aerial ambush aided by a Swedish-donated Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft. This historic first air-to-air combat kill by a Western-supplied F-16 is now confirmed by Caine. 

 Initially reported by Bild and the Ukrainian Air Force as taking place on June 7, 2025, near the border in the Kursk/Sumy sector, roughly 42 kilometres behind the front lines. Reports indicated a Swedish Saab 340 airborne early warning radar platform tracked the Russian jet and fed target coordinates to Ukrainian F-16s for a beyond-visual-range strike.Dutch-modified F-16 AMs were first received by the Ukrainians in May 2025. The Saab 340 AWACS platform, taken on charge just a few months ago, reportedly detected the Russian aircraft 200–300 kilometers from the border and relayed targeting data in real time to the F-16. Once within range, the Ukrainian fighter launched an AIM-120 missile. The Russian Su-35 was shot down approximately 16 kilometres inside Russian territory, near the town of Korenovo in Kursk region.

Below; Ukrainian Air Force photo of one of their recently acquired F-16s. Load comprises AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9L/M missiles, underwing fuel tanks, plus Terma (Adaptable Capability Enhancement) weapons pylons.