Ukrainian Air Force

Latest in Ukrainian Air Force

New footage has emerged showing how Ukraine is using adapted Antonov An-28 Cash twin-turboprop utility aircraft as part of its anti-drone inventory. While images of the aircraft, replete with multiple drone kill marks, had previously been published, we now get to see the aircraft’s armament — a six-barrel M134 Minigun — in action, too.
Ukrainian Air Force

Watch Ukraine’s Minigun-Firing, Drone-Hunting Turboprop In Action

By Thomas Newdick

Updated 4 Hours Ago

Earlier this week, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Meteor was one of the weapons under discussion for the next Swedish security aid package for Ukraine. Also on the agenda were the Gripen E and undisclosed air defense systems, Saab radars, electronic warfare systems, and drones, including long-range one-way attack drones. The announcement came after talks between the Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov and his Swedish counterpart, Paul Jonsson.
Ukrainian Air Force

Meteor Long-Range Air-To-Air Missile In The Works For Ukraine, But There’s A Catch

By Thomas Newdick

Updated Yesterday

The U.S. Air Force has released details of a live-fire test of the Rusty Dagger, one of two new Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) being developed under a crash program. The milestone suggest that Ukraine is a step closer to getting its hands on thousands of air-launched ERAMs that will provide the country with a powerful new and relatively low-cost standoff strike capability. The event is also significant in terms of the Pentagon’s focus on rapidly developing and bringing into operational service new weapons that can be built at scale.
Ukrainian Air Force

Rusty Dagger Low-Cost Cruise Missile Hits Its Target

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Feb 2, 2026

A camera placed in the cockpit of a Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 Frogfoot close air support jet recorded the dramatic demise of the aircraft, after it was reportedly struck by a Russian long-range air-to-air missile. This is not the first time in the Ukrainian conflict that we’ve seen the destruction of a combat jet at such close quarters. However, with the death of the pilot confirmed by Ukrainian authorities, the footage is a sobering reminder of the huge risks faced by aircrew in some of the most lethal airspace in history.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukrainian Su-25 Shoot-Down Seen In Harrowing Onboard Video

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

The Ukrainian Armed Forces using the U.S.-made V2X Tempest, a high-mobility vehicle with a launcher for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles that is optimized for the counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) role. Mounting Hellfires on a high-mobility vehicle provides a valuable new means of employing these weapons, not only against drone threats, but potentially also other targets, too.
Ukrainian Air Force

Hellfire-Armed Drone-Killing Buggy Appears In Ukrainian Service

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 12, 2026

A newly published video interview with a Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilot sheds more light on the operations of the country’s F-16 fleet in its war with Russia. The interview with the pilot, whose name is not provided, is a rare opportunity to hear about how the Ukrainian Air Force has gone about introducing its first Western fighter jet. The Viper is now heavily engaged on various fronts, combatting cruise missiles and drones, as well as striking ground targets, including in close proximity to friendly troops.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukrainian F-16 Pilot’s Account Of The Challenges Of The Air War

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 6, 2026

MiG-29 of the Polish Air Force take part in a NATO Air Force military drill on October 12, 2022 in Lask, Poland.
Ukrainian Air Force

Poland’s Last MiG-29 Fulcrums Being Lined Up For Transfer To Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 10, 2025

In its latest efforts to modernize its air force, Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters from France over the next 10 years. Today’s agreement comes less than a month after Sweden and Ukraine unveiled a plan to export as many as 150 Gripen E fighters to Kyiv. While the Rafale is the most advanced combat aircraft so far included in Ukraine’s defense plans, there remain huge questions about whether the acquisition of one of these aircraft types, let alone two, is really feasible, especially in such numbers.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine’s Questionable Plan To Buy Up To 100 Rafale Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

A group of men run on the tarmac during the opening ceremony of the European F-16 Training Center at the 86th Romanian Military Airbase in Fetesti, Romania, on November 13, 2023.
Ukrainian Air Force

Romania Just ‘Bought’ 18 F-16s For One Euro

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 4, 2025

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walk past a Gripen fighter jet after they delivered a joint press conference in Linkoping, Sweden, on October 22, 2025, after talks on Russia's ongoing of aggression against Ukraine and the countries' deepening defense cooperation. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on october 22 that Sweden and Ukraine had signed a letter of intent to develop air capabilities, which could see Ukraine buy up to 150 Gripen fighter jets.
Ukrainian Air Force

Huge Gripen Fighter Order Letter Of Intent Signed By Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 22, 2025

Evidence has emerged that Ukraine has topped up its hard-worked fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters from a somewhat surprising source: Azerbaijan. While the number of aircraft involved is not considerable, any addition to the MiG-29 fleet will be welcome for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has also received Fulcrums donated by Poland and Slovakia and which has suffered steady attrition since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine Now Flying Former Azerbaijani MiG-29 Fulcrum

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29
Ukrainian Air Force

First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Sep 2, 2025

Yak52 drone hunters
Ukrainian Air Force

This Is How Ukrainian Yak-52 Crews Hunt Russian Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 30, 2025

Washington has approved the transfer of thousands of Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) to Ukraine, which will provide the country with a powerful new and relatively low-cost standoff strike capability, it has been reported. However, it’s unclear whether Kyiv will be able to use the new air-launched weapon to strike targets deep within Russia, with unnamed U.S. officials telling the Wall Street Journal that these are off-limits, at least for the U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine Will Receive First Of Thousands Of New U.S. Made Standoff Missiles In The Coming Weeks

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

Newly published footage shows an ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) fitted to a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker fighter. The video confirms that the store is used by both this and Ukraine’s MiG-29 Fulcrum jets and also that it is carried on the same specially adapted underwing pylon that is used for various Western-supplied guided munitions.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine Shows Off ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy On Su-27

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 22, 2025

The turboprop-powered Zlin Z-137 Agro Turbo is seen swooping low over a Ukrainian cornfield, very much its traditional operating environment. In this case, however, it sports a single R-73 air-to-air missile under each wing. The agricultural plane also appears to have received a military-style dull gray overall paint scheme, with white identification stripes on the rear fuselage to reduce the risk of ‘friendly fire.’ Details of the date and location of the video are not immediately available.
Ukrainian Air Force

Crop Duster Armed With Air-To-Air Missiles Appears In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 8, 2025