New phase in war: How Ukrainian F-16 downed Russian Su-35 and Swedes role

Content

1.How it happened: operation details

2.Historical significance of the event and expert opinions

3.Features of the aircraft: F-16 vs. Su-35

4.Significance for the Russian-Ukrainian war

This event not only demonstrated the growing capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force with NATO-standard weapons, but also became an important symbol of the effectiveness of Western military support. Espresso will tell you about the details of this operation, the historical significance of the event, the technical characteristics of the aircraft and the possible impact on the course of the war.

How it happened: operation details

The Ukrainian Air Force announced the successful downing of a Russian Su-35 on Saturday, June 7.

“This morning, on June 7, 2025, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was shot down as a result of a successful operation by the Air Force in the Kursk direction,” the statement said.

The Air Force later published a video of the downed plane, but did not provide details.

The Defense-Express suggested that “a likely option is to use F-16 multirole fighters” to perform this task.

Instead, BILD managed to find out the historicity of this event, confirming the assumption about the F-16.

According to them, when Ukrainian fighter jets were conducting operations on the border of the Sumy and Kursk regions, attacking Russian positions, Russia launched one of its most advanced aircraft, the Su-35, to counter them. Its task was to intercept Ukrainian aircraft that were carrying out targeted strikes on Russian targets. However, in the end, the Russian pilot fell into a carefully planned ambush.

German journalists note that a key role in this operation was played by the Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C long-range radar detection aircraft provided to Ukraine by Sweden. This aircraft, which serves as an airborne command post, detected the Su-35 at a distance of 200-300 km from the border. The Saab 340 transmitted the exact coordinates of the target to a Ukrainian F-16 that was in the area of hostilities. After receiving the data, the F-16 pilot fired an AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, which hit the Su-35 at a distance of about 50 km. The Russians did not even know that they had been fired upon.

The Russian plane crashed near the town of Korenevo in the Kursk region, about 16 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to Russian sources, the pilot of the Su-35 managed to eject and survived. The Ukrainian aircraft returned to the base without losses.

Thus, the operation became an example of the effective interaction of Western military technologies in the hands of Ukrainian ace pilots. Thanks to the Saab 340 AEW&C, the Ukrainian forces gained an advantage in early target detection, which allowed the F-16 to strike without even engaging in direct air combat.

Historical significance of the event and expert opinions

The destruction of the Su-35 by a Ukrainian F-16 was the first confirmed air victory for the F-16 in the Russian-Ukrainian war. This is the first known case where a Western fighter jet, which was transferred to Ukraine, successfully destroyed one of the most advanced Russian aircraft in an air battle.

Until now, it was known that F-16s were used primarily for air defense deep inside Ukrainian territory or for striking ground targets in frontline areas. Therefore, this event marks a qualitative leap in the capabilities of Ukrainian aviation.

The significance of this victory is enhanced by the fact that the Su-35 was shot down by an F-16AM, a modification that many considered outdated compared to modern Russian aircraft.

“A Ukrainian F-16AM shot down a Russian Su-35 with an AMRAAM this morning. If confirmed, it would mark the first air-to-air kill by a Ukrainian Viper. More significantly, it would mean that Russia’s top-tier Flanker was brought down by an ex-Dutch F-16AM, a variant many had considered past its prime,” the analytical portal Air Power emphasizes.

In other words, it proves that even older models of Western equipment, combined with advanced guidance systems and pilot skills, can effectively counter Russian aircraft. In addition, this unprecedented event emphasizes the effectiveness of integrating Western systems, such as the Saab 340 AEW&C, into Ukraine's combat operations.

"Not just an F16, the elephant in the room is a Swedish AWAS system now detecting Russian aircraft hundreds of KM away in real time and directing missiles fired by the F16. The SU35 never even knew it was being engaged," Canadian pilot and aviation expert Mark Brooks wrote on social network X, commenting on the incident.

Military expert Yuriy Fedorov told Radio Liberty that despite the older model of the aircraft, Ukrainian forces were able to “competently organize an air battle,” which was the key to their historic success.

He also emphasizes that the Russians are increasingly blindfolded, as they have big problems with long-range detection aircraft, without which it is difficult to imagine modern air duels.

"The Russians have big problems with long-range radar reconnaissance and detection aircraft - these are the well-known A-50 and A-50U aircraft. One of these aircraft was disabled, perhaps destroyed, perhaps severely damaged, but in any case, it is not operational during, or in the course of, Operation Web, which we all know very well. The Russians have, at best, 5 such aircraft left. At the beginning of the war, there were 10 of them, but now there are no more than 5 of them that are operational, that is, serviceable, capable of conducting combat operations, perhaps less. This means that they will lose air battles. Without such aircraft, it is very difficult to conduct more or less competent air combat today. And, in fact, one of the proofs of this was the destruction of this Su-35," the expert notes.

Features of the aircraft: F-16 vs. Su-35

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a fourth-generation American multi-role fighter aircraft that has been in service since 1978. Ukrainian F-16s, in particular the F-16AM model, have been provided by NATO countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway. Despite its age, the F-16 remains versatile and effective thanks to its modern weapons and electronics systems.

First of all, the F-16 is known for its high maneuverability, which makes it effective in close air combat. It is equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAM (medium-range) and AIM-9X Sidewinder (short-range) missiles, which allow it to hit targets beyond line of sight. Electronic warfare systems, such as the Pylon Integrated Dispersal System (PIDS), allow the F-16 to avoid radar guidance.

The F-16 has a maximum speed of up to 2,120 km/h (Mach 2, i.e. twice as fast as sound waves).

Instead, the Su-35 (Flanker-E according to NATO codification) is more powerful on paper. This is a Russian multi-role fighter of the 4++ generation, which is a deep modernization of the Su-27 and is considered one of the most advanced aircraft in the Russian Air Force. It has an Irbis-E radar, which is supposedly capable of detecting targets at a distance of up to 400 km and simultaneously tracking up to 30 targets. It also has engines with a controlled thrust vector that allows it to perform complex maneuvers. Its maximum speed is up to 2,500 km/h (Mach 2.25). The Su-35 carries a wide arsenal of air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and anti-ship missiles.

Compared to the Su-35, the F-16 is inferior in radar range and top speed, but makes up for it with better electronics, integration with Western systems, and versatility. In this historic battle, the F-16's advantage was its coordination with the Saab 340, which allowed it to see and destroy the Su-35 before the Russian pilot realized the threat.

It should be noted that the Saab 340 AEW&C is a Swedish long-range radar detection aircraft developed on the basis of the Saab 340 turboprop. Equipped with an Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar with an active phased array antenna, it is capable of detecting air targets at a distance of up to 450 km and simultaneously tracking up to 300 objects, including aircraft, missiles and drones. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 530 km/h, a range of up to 1,300 km and can stay in the air for up to 7 hours.

Sweden officially announced the transfer of two Saab 340 AEW&C (ASC 890) aircraft to Ukraine at the end of May last year. Earlier it was reported that the first aircraft arrived in Ukraine and made a test flight over the Lviv region in April this year, but this information was later allegedly denied. After that, there was no mention of the Saab 340 already operating in the skies over Ukraine.

Significance for the Russian-Ukrainian war

If the story of the downing of the Su-35 really happened as described in BILD and is confirmed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it means that air duels in the Russian-Ukrainian war are reaching a new level. For the first time, Ukraine has been able to effectively compete with Russian fourth-generation fighters not only on its territory but also in the airspace previously considered to be under Russian control.

This opens a new chapter in the war: a phase in which Western aviation, precision weapons, and long-range detection systems allow Ukraine to really threaten Russia's superiority in the skies. Although the Russians still have a numerical advantage (hundreds of operational fighters), they cannot use them all at the same time in one area because of the need to close their vast airspace. Therefore, even the 80 or so F-16s promised to Ukraine, in coordination with the Saab 340 aircraft, are effective tools that change the tactics of war.

After all, the Su-35 often performs the task of covering bombers that drop guided aerial bombs (GABs) on strategic targets in the rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on cities and villages, posing a significant danger to everyone.

"The situation with the downing of the Su-35 may reduce the effectiveness of Russian bombing campaigns, as they will need to take into account that their fighters can be shot down on approach. Russia is likely to change its tactics and analyze the situation," said military expert Yuriy Fedorov.

That is, finally, after almost a year since the first F-16s appeared in the skies of Ukraine, they have begun to have an impact on the strategic course of the war. After all, they were previously used to repel Russian missile or drone attacks, but later they were involved in other operations, and now they can fight modern Russian fighters on equal terms, even having the advantage of shooting them down on enemy territory. That is why the Russians are now actively attacking Ukrainian operational airfields used for aviation missions, trying to reduce the new capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force.