--- title: "New Shots Of Ukrainian F-16s Shine Light On Combat Missions" description: "Recently emerged imagery of [Ukrainian Air Force F-16s]() shows the fighters carrying a [variety of weapons and other stores](), apparently in the course of combat sorties, providing an interesting look at the type’s operational service in the war with Russia.…" date: "2025-02-12" modified: "2025-02-12" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/new-shots-of-ukrainian-f-16s-shine-light-on-combat-missions" categories: - "AIM-120 AMRAAM" - "AIM-9 Sidewinder" - "Air" - "Air Force Munitions" - "Air Forces" - "Air-To-Air" - "Air-To-Ground" - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "F-16" - "Fighters" - "News & Features" - "Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)/Stormbreaker" - "Ukraine" - "Ukrainian Air Force" tags: - "russia" - "Ukraine" --- # New Shots Of Ukrainian F-16s Shine Light On Combat Missions ![The first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons received by Ukraine fly on the Day of Ukrainian Air Force on August 4, 2024 in Unspecified, Ukraine. At the event for the Day of Ukrainian Air Force with the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons received by Ukraine were demonstrated.]() *Photo by Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images* Recently emerged imagery of [Ukrainian Air Force F-16s]() shows the fighters carrying a [variety of weapons and other stores](), apparently in the course of combat sorties, providing an interesting look at the type’s operational service in the war with Russia. The new imagery reveals specific details of load-outs used in operational air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, including some weapons not previously seen on these jets. While the quality of these images varies, the clearest example shows an F-16 apparently returning from a daytime combat air patrol sortie and preparing to land. This seems to have been first posted by the Ukrainian *Soniah\_Hub* [channel]() on the Telegram messaging app. https://www.twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1889411650291376487 Seen from below, the fighter is carrying two [AIM-9X Sidewinder]() infrared-guided air-to-air missiles and a single [AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile]() (AMRAAM). This suggests that one AMRAAM was expended in combat, although it’s also possible, if not far less likely, that the jet may have launched with this asymmetric load. We haven’t previously seen the AIM-9X on Ukrainian F-16s, with earlier imagery showing the jets fitted with the earlier AIM-9L/M. Compared with the AIM-9L/M, the AIM-9X offers a more potent short-range air-to-air missile capability that can be used in conjunction with the F-16’s [Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)]() for high off-boresight (HOBS) engagements. While we know that JHMCS was supplied together with the F-16s, even without it, the AIM-9X is a very valuable weapon that is particularly relevant [for defending against drones]() and cruise missiles. You can read all about employing AIM-9X *without* a helmet-mounted sight [here](). ![]() *A screencap from an official video showing a Ukrainian F-16 pilot wearing JHMCS. **Ukrainian Ministry of Defense screencap*** Another weapon seen for the first time on a Ukrainian F-16 is the AIM-120C version of the AMRAAM, on the left [wingtip rail](). This version can be identified on account of its cropped fins for internal carriage in the F-22 and F-35. https://www.twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1889411652501533101 As we’ve [discussed in the past](), the AIM-120C offers some significant advantages over the earlier AIM-120A/B models. Aside from this, the AMRAAM is significant in that it’s Ukraine’s first active-radar-guided air-to-air missile. This is a class of weapons that was long sought after by Ukraine. [One of its fighter pilots](), the late Andrii Pilshchykov, better known by his callsign “Juice,” told *TWZ*: “The lack of fire and forget missiles is the greatest problem for us.” ![]() *A U.S. Air Force F-16C armed with AIM-120C AMRAAM, AIM-9L/M Sidewinder, and AGM-88 HARM missiles. *U.S. Air Force** The AIM-120C features an improved guidance system and enhanced resistance to countermeasures, although perhaps the single most important factor for Ukraine is its additional range, reportedly a feature of later subvariants (like the AIM-120C-5 and C-7). This would provide the Ukrainian Air Force with a counter of sorts to Russia’s [long-range R-37M air-to-air missile](). Typical Russian tactics involve firing the R-37M from outside the range of the missiles carried by Ukrainian fighters. While the AIM-120C won’t offer parity with the R-37M, any way of increasing the lethal range of the F-16, as a counter to Russian fighters, will be very welcome. ![]() *A Russian Su-35S launches an R-37M air-to-air missile. *Russian Ministry of Defense** The same F-16 is also carrying three external fuel tanks, to maximize its endurance, an especially important factor considering Ukraine has no air-to-air refueling assets. Of poorer quality is a brief video that emerged recently showing an F-16 streaking at low level, purportedly close to the front lines. https://www.twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1888814860210745841 ![]() *A screenshot of the above video, showing an air-to-ground-tasked F-16. *via X** It’s hard to make out all of the details of the aircraft’s load-out but it appears to be configured for an air-to-ground mission. In particular, stations 3 and 7 under the wings look to be fitted with BRU-61 racks, each of which can carry four [GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs]() (SDBs). The Ukrainian Air Force is already making extensive use of the SDB launched from Soviet-era [MiG-29]() and [Su-27]() fighters and it’s not a huge surprise to see the same store being hauled into battle by the F-16. ![A recently released video from the cockpit of a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker provides an unprecedented close-quarters view of the fighter lobbing GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) toward a Russian target.]() *A screencap from a video taken from the cockpit of a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 shows the fighter lobbing a GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) toward a Russian target. *via X* via X* The SDB offers numerous advantages as an air-to-ground weapon for the F-16. As well as the ability to carry relatively large numbers of these stores, the SDB offers a high level of accuracy and a useful standoff range, and it can be used to strike semi-hardened static targets. Just as importantly, large numbers of SDBs are available in existing NATO stockpiles. Interestingly, the F-16AM version that is being supplied to Ukraine by a coalition of Western partners is not widely associated with the SDB. In fact, it seems that, of the various F-16AM/BM operators, only [the Netherlands]() used the SDB with these MLU-upgraded aircraft. ![]() *SDBs loaded on a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM. *Dutch Ministry of Defense** There are also two underwing fuel tanks and an [AN/ALQ-131]() electronic countermeasures pod carried on the centerline. A podded electronic warfare capability of this kind gives the F-16 a valuable extra layer of survivability, especially important when flying air-to-ground missions in close proximity to the battlefield and its ever-present ground-based air defense threat. As for the ALQ-131, this widely used pod provides self-protection against radar threats, responding to them with a combination of noise, repeater, or transponder electronic jamming techniques. The pod has a modular design and can operate across multiple frequency bands, also being rapidly re-programmed to address changing threats. ![This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ALQ-131.webp]() *An F-16C sporting an AN/ALQ-131 self-protection pod on its centerline station. *U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released** It is especially interesting that the ALQ-131 being carried by this F-16 is just one part of the aircraft’s electronic warfare self-protection suite, reflecting the intensity of the threat. Ukrainian F-16s [are also equipped]() with Pylon Integrated Dispensing System Plus (PIDS+) systems, and perhaps also the more advanced Electronic Combat Integrated Pylon System Plus (ECIPS+), both of which are made by the Terma company in Denmark. Both these pylons are bolt-on self-defense systems that feature missile approach warning sensors (MAWS) that can detect incoming missile threats, while the PIDS+ also have additional dispensers for chaff and flares. The pylons can also provide radar warning and homing receiver capabilities, which give the pilot situational awareness of radar-based threats. ![Before the Ukrainian Air Force received its first batch of F-16 Viper fighters, the U.S. Air Force helped optimize electronic warfare (EW) systems on those jets against Russian threats.]() *An earlier view of a Ukrainian F-16 carrying AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9L/M missiles, underwing fuel tanks, plus the Terma pylons with integrated self-defense systems. *Ukrainian Air Force* Ukrainian Air Force* ![This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is PIDS.webp]() *Rear shot of a Ukrainian F-16 with the Terma self-protection pylon, live AIM-9L/M, and a captive carry (inert) AIM-120B AMRAAM. *Ukrainian Ministry of Defense screencap** [As we have discussed before](), prior to their delivery, Ukraine’s F-16s had their electronic warfare systems optimized, with U.S. Air Force assistance, to better defend those jets against Russian threats. As part of ongoing collaboration on this front, the Ukrainians will pass data they collect in combat back to the United States to help further refine and improve electronic warfare capabilities available to both countries, as well as other allies and partners. Defensive weapons appear to comprise two Sidewinders under the wings (these may well be AIM-9L/M versions, in this case) as well as AMRAAMs on the wingtips. Those wingtip stores don’t necessarily look like AMRAAMs, but there doesn’t seem to be any other immediate alternative for this location and what we are probably seeing is the distorted effect of the pixelation and generally lower-quality video. Overall, while it appears the Ukrainian F-16s were introduced to combat primarily in an air defense capacity, especially in the protection of cities and infrastructure against Russian drone and cruise missile attacks, the aircraft is now flying air-to-ground sorties too, making fuller use of its multirole capabilities. The introduction of the F-16 by the Ukrainian Air Force hasn’t been entirely without problems. In August 2024, less than a month after the type was first confirmed as being in the country, Ukraine [confirmed the loss]() of its first F-16 and one of its pilots in a crash during a combat mission. ![This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is F16-Ukraine.webp]() *A screencap from an official video showing a Ukrainian F-16 equipped with four AIM-9L/Ms and a Terma self-protection pylon. *Ukrainian Ministry of Defense screencap** ** Since then, deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine have been delayed. In particular, deliveries of the [F-16s promised by Belgium]() were expected to begin before the end of 2024, but this has yet to happen. The problem is a lack of trained Ukrainian pilots and spare parts, [according to the Belgian Ministry of Defense](). Last week, however, it was reported that a batch of [former Dutch F-16s]() had also arrived in Ukraine. In all, around 85 F-16s have now been promised to Ukraine, which include 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, and 12 from Norway (with the same country providing 10 more that will be used for spare parts), while Belgium [says it will supply 30](). As more F-16s arrive, and the type becomes better established in Ukrainian service, we should learn more about the kinds of missions that it’s flying. At the same time, with a wide range of potential weapons and stores compatible with the Viper, we’re almost certain to see other and more varied load-outs on these aircraft as they expand their mission profiles. *Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()