Latest news with #F-16s
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A Russian oil company says it paid out a $195,000 bounty to soldiers it credited with downing an F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine
A Russian company said it paid 12 soldiers a combined $195,000 for shooting down an F-16 jet. Fores said it presented the soldiers the cash at a ceremony near the Russia-Ukraine border on Thursday. Kyiv had long coveted the US-made F-16. It received its first of the jets in 2024. A Russian oil company said it had awarded a total of 15 million rubles (around $195,000) to Russian soldiers who it credited with downing the first US-made F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine. In a press release, Fores, a fracking parts manufacturer, said it had presented 12 servicemen with the cash at a ceremony near the Russia-Ukraine border on Thursday. "Fores fulfilled its earlier promise and paid 15 million rubles to Russian servicemen for destroying the first F-16 fighter jet in the special operation zone," the company said. The firm announced the bounty system in 2023, promising cash rewards for soldiers who destroyed certain Western-supplied military equipment. The company said it had so far paid out just over 52 million rubles (around $670,000) for the destruction of the F-16 and an unspecified number of Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had long coveted the F-16 as he sought to bolster Ukraine's air defenses, and Kyiv received its first delivery of the jet in the summer of 2024. Ukraine's forces have so far lost at least three F-16s in combat, with the General Staff confirming the first loss in August last year. The F-16 has nevertheless seemingly proved a hit over the battlefield. Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, the US's top general in Europe, told a Senate Armed Services Committee in April that F-16s were flying "every day" in Ukraine and that they had been successful in both air defense and offensive operations. "They've defeated a large number of cruise missile threats, and they've delivered an awful lot of offensive attacks as well," he said, adding: "Specifically, bombing attacks in the east." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
A Russian oil company says it paid out a $195,000 bounty to soldiers it credited with downing an F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine
A Russian oil company said it had awarded a total of 15 million rubles (around $195,000) to Russian soldiers who it credited with downing the first US-made F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine. In a press release, Fores, a fracking parts manufacturer, said it had presented 12 servicemen with the cash at a ceremony near the Russia-Ukraine border on Thursday. "Fores fulfilled its earlier promise and paid 15 million rubles to Russian servicemen for destroying the first F-16 fighter jet in the special operation zone," the company said. The firm announced the bounty system in 2023, promising cash rewards for soldiers who destroyed certain Western-supplied military equipment. The company said it had so far paid out just over 52 million rubles (around $670,000) for the destruction of the F-16 and an unspecified number of Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had long coveted the F-16 as he sought to bolster Ukraine's air defenses, and Kyiv received its first delivery of the jet in the summer of 2024. Ukraine's forces have so far lost at least three F-16s in combat, with the General Staff confirming the first loss in August last year. The F-16 has nevertheless seemingly proved a hit over the battlefield. Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, the US's top general in Europe, told a Senate Armed Services Committee in April that F-16s were flying "every day" in Ukraine and that they had been successful in both air defense and offensive operations. "They've defeated a large number of cruise missile threats, and they've delivered an awful lot of offensive attacks as well," he said, adding: "Specifically, bombing attacks in the east."
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
We're training Ukraine's brave F-16 pilots — here's what they need to keep fighting
After years of delay, Ukraine's Air Force is flying the F-16 fighter jets it's received from NATO — and, during a training visit this month, we saw for ourselves how these 'Vipers' are remaking the battlefield both in and from the skies. Ukrainian F-16s are striking Russian assets and engaging Russian aircraft, missiles and drones more effectively than the UAF's old Soviet-era aircraft ever could. However, Kyiv still needs help with maintenance, training and munitions to bring the full warfighting capability of the F-16 to the fight. The Ukrainians now have a mix of Danish, Dutch and Norwegian Vipers, flown by English-speaking Ukrainian pilots who previously piloted Soviet-era aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-27. With training from the United States, the Netherlands, Romania and other European partners, Ukraine's F-16 pilots have done great work — especially in engaging Russian cruise missiles and Iranian-designed Shaheed drones, taking pressure off ground-based defenders. Some UAF pilots have already intercepted more than 20 missiles and drones. To keep these Vipers in the air, Ukraine needs the 'lifecycle maintenance' package that normally comes along with foreign military sales of US weapons systems: parts, test equipment, maintenance stands and consumables like tires and filters — mundane requirements overlooked when the first planes were delivered. The Western support plan also didn't consider that an F-16 is not a MiG. American technology and tactics make the F-16 ideal for 'decentralized operations' — not for Soviet-style 'close control' micromanagement from the ground. Top to bottom, the UAF must revise its doctrine and tactics to fully exploit the Viper's radar capabilities and agility — as well as the ingenuity of the humans operating it. That will require a cultural shift. Senior Ukrainian officers must buy in to the Western way of fighting, from strategic and operational planning to day-to-day tactical execution. As we saw, the current cadre of Viper pilots gets it. The sooner their mindset takes root more broadly, the more success Ukraine will see on the battlefield. And while these are significant challenges, some help is on the way. Just hours after Washington and Kyiv signed a critical minerals deal in early May, President Trump's State Department approved a $310 million sale of equipment and training for F-16 modifications and upgrades; operation, maintenance and sustainment; spare parts and consumables; and software and technical documentation, as part of America's investment in Ukraine's industrial development. Also: The United States is reportedly giving Ukraine non-operational F-16s from its 'boneyard' of retired aircraft — hulks without engines or radars that will provide much-needed parts to keep the UAF jets in the air. Sweden has donated two Saab 340 airborne early-warning and control aircraft. These planes will drastically improve the overall air domain awareness for Ukraine's F-16s and increase the lethality of its entire integrated air and missile defense force. And critically, more Ukrainian pilots are being trained in the United States and Europe. To sustain combat operations for the long haul, squadrons should have about two pilots for every aircraft — a ratio the Ukrainians woefully lack today. But to put pressure on Russian air and ground forces, there's more we can do. First, the UAF needs a low-cost, air-to-air weapon to engage Moscow's missiles and drones. Ukraine's Viper pilots now mostly use the AIM-9 Sidewinder for such missions. It's expensive — more than 10 times the cost of a Russian drone — and Western stockpiles are low. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System, a small, laser-guided rocket, is a far better option. They're much cheaper than Russian long-range kamikaze drones, and an F-16 can carry 28 or more of them — compared to only four AIM-9s — on a single sortie. That means pilots can engage exponentially more targets on a given mission. Get opinions and commentary from our columnists Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters The Ukrainians already use the APKWS in a land-based counter-drone mission. Washington and partner nations must quickly give the UAF all the necessary hardware, software and tactical employment guidance necessary to get it airborne, too. Next, Ukraine needs advanced electronic warfare self-protection pods for its F-16s. These systems, which usually include jammers and decoy elements, would help Ukraine's F-16s evade Russian defenses, allowing them to operate closer to the front lines. Finally, Western countries transitioning from F-16s to F-35s, such as the Netherlands and Denmark, should open their warehouses for a 'garage sale' — and the Ukrainians should pull some 18-wheelers up to their doors. Almost none of these nations' F-16 parts, consumables and maintenance gear will transition over to the F-35, so Ukraine can help clear out their clutter. Vladimir Putin has ramped up Russia's deadly aerial attacks on Ukrainian civilians and cities — spurring Trump to explode, 'He's playing with fire!' With a little extra support for Ukraine's F-16s, Kiev can answer Moscow with some fire of its own. Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery co-leads the Air and Missile Defense Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charles Corcoran is an independent consultant focused on national security and defense.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
"Interesting strike": Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces destroyed over 40 Russian vehicles in one operation
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukrainian troops recently struck Russian positions using 400 drones simultaneously, destroying more than 40 pieces of Russian equipment. Source: Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "Recently, we had an interesting strike on them. We simultaneously launched 400 small drones. More than 40 pieces of equipment were destroyed at once. And we carried out this operation. It was carried out solely by the military, solely on the battlefield." Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that this was the first attempt at such an operation and expressed confidence that Ukraine would soon be able to demonstrate even more large-scale actions. The president also said Ukraine was developing aerial interception systems, particularly involving drones. Quote: "We understand how many [Russian aerial assets] Mirages or F-16s can shoot down in a single sortie and how many we can use simultaneously in the air. We're also advancing in drone-on-drone interceptors. We're already using them." Details: Zelenskyy said these interceptor drones have become a response to Shahed drone attacks, which Russians launch at altitudes inaccessible to Ukraine's mobile fire units. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Babe Romualdez: F-16s on Philippines' wishlist but land-based weapons a priority
'The F-16 will continue to be part of the overall plan, perhaps, in the future. But as of now, as I said, our priority is more on land-based type of defense capabilities,' Romualdez told selected journalists from Japan and the Philippines on a reporting tour of the US funded by the US State Department. WASHINGTON - The Philippines is hoping to acquire fighter jets like the F-16s being offered by the United States, but will prioritize land-based weapons that are more affordable for its national defense, Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said Tuesday. The Philippines is working with the US and Lockheed Martin Corp., the Bethesda, Maryland-based aircraft manufacturer, to determine how it can finance the major F-16 acquisition. Romualdez, however, said, 'We're really looking at other items that are, in view of our national defense strategy, more important than the F-16s.' 'The F-16 will continue to be part of the overall plan, perhaps, in the future. But as of now, as I said, our priority is more on land-based type of defense capabilities,' Romualdez told selected journalists from Japan and the Philippines on a reporting tour of the US funded by the US State Department. The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia and both have boosted defense ties under former President Joe Biden and the current Trump administration in the face of China's increasing aggressive actions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The U.S. has helped in efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines for years aside from staging large-scale combat-readiness exercises every year, including the Balikatan military exercises that has increasingly focused on strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines' capability to defend the country's territorial interests in the disputed waters. 'As I said the F-16, it's an aspiration that we've had for many, many years. There are other offers from other countries like the Gripen, which is actually made in Sweden. But there's a question of affordability,' Romualdez said. The US State Department announced Washington's approval of the major F-16s sale following the visit in Manila of Sec. Pete Hegseth, who announced the Trump administration's support to help modernize the AFP's firepower and military capabilities to help deter China's growing aggression in the South China Sea. Hegseth also reaffirmed the Trump administration's "iron-clad" commitment to its obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which obliges the allies to help defend one another in case of an external attack. Washington's assistance is crucial to Manila's efforts to modernize its armed forces, one of Asia's most underfunded, as it seeks to strengthen its maritime capability amid an increasingly aggressive China, which has repeatedly harassed and threatened Philippine vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea. 'That's the reason why we tell our friends here in the United States that our economic prosperity and our economic security are tied into our defense security,' Romualdez said. 'If we have the wherewithal we will be able to bring our country's armed forces into being a real partner to the United States, which I think is what the administration of President Trump would like to see - that countries should be able to defend themselves in partnership with the United States,' he said. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is conducting an overall study to determine 'what is really the best in terms of the capabilities that we need,' Romualdez said. 'At the end of the day, of course, depending on our resources, and the capability to be able to finance these purchases in the long-term, that's what's important,' Romualdez said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
