Why is the S-400 missile the biggest fear of Ukrainian F-16 pilots?

General Christopher G. Cavoli, head of the US European Command (EUCOM), revealed that the Ukrainian Air Force has significantly increased the use of F-16 fighter jets in combat operations against Russia. Photo: @TWZ.

Speaking to reporters, Cavoli confirmed that Ukrainian pilots are now flying these advanced aircraft on a daily basis, taking advantage of additional delivery resources from European allies such as the Netherlands and Denmark. Photo: @Lewis Joly.

The F-16, officially known as the Fighting Falcon, is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft designed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) in the early 1970s. Photo: @France 24.

Originally conceived as an air superiority fighter, over the decades the F-16 has evolved into a multi-role platform capable of performing a variety of missions, from air-to-air combat to precision ground attack. Photo: @: Petras Malukas.

The aircraft's compact design, truncated delta wings, and top speed exceeding Mach 2 give it exceptional agility. Photo: @Atlantic Council.

The F-16 typically carries a 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon and can be equipped with a range of weapons, including AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for air-to-air engagements, as well as precision-guided munitions such as the JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) for ground targets. Photo: @Euro-sd.

Combined with an internal fuel system and integrated external fuel tanks, the upgraded F-16 is significantly superior to the aging Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 fleets. With a combat radius of about 547 km, the upgraded F-16 offers a huge advantage to the Ukrainian military. Photo: @NPR.

Earlier this year, a Ukrainian pilot interviewed claimed that more than 80% of the missiles launched from the F-16 hit their targets, neutralizing threats such as Shahed drones and cruise missiles launched from Russian territory. Photo: @usubc.

It's all thanks to the F-16's advanced radar and fire control systems, especially the AN/APG-66 radar or the upgraded AN/APG-68 radar, which allows the F-16 to target precisely at extended ranges. Photo: @militarnyi.

In addition to air defense, the F-16’s ground attack capabilities have undergone some changes. In recent weeks, Ukraine has equipped these jets with GBU-39 small diameter bombs and JDAM-ER kits, which convert unguided bombs into GPS-guided munitions with a range of more than 64 km. Photo: @Interfax-Ukraine.

This allowed Ukrainian forces to attack Russian command posts, supply lines and fortifications, without exposing pilots to dense surface-to-air missile systems near the front. Photo: @Euromaidan Press.

But maintaining these sophisticated machines in a war zone is also a huge challenge for Ukraine. Unlike Soviet-era aircraft, which were designed for harsh conditions and maintained with locally available parts, the F-16 requires a complex supply chain and specialized infrastructure. Photo: @ARY News.

The question of where and how the F-16s are maintained remains murky. Ukraine’s current air bases, many of which date back to the Soviet era, were not designed for Western aircraft like the F-16, which requires highly advanced maintenance hangars. Photo: @The National Interest.

Of course, Russia isn’t standing idly by as Ukraine builds up its air power. Moscow has long viewed the presence of F-16s as a red line. In response, Russian forces are adjusting their tactics. Photo: @ Defense One.

Open source intelligence in late March showed that Russia was increasing the activity of S-400 air defence systems along the front, helping to attack targets at a range of up to 402km with 40N6 missiles. Photo: @BBC.

These systems pose a significant threat to the F-16s, forcing Ukrainian pilots to fly low, or on the edge of contested airspace to avoid detection. Photo: @Bulgarian Military.

There are also signs that Russia is redeploying its own advanced fighters, such as the Su-35S and MiG-31BM, to counter the new threat. The Su-35, a 4.5 generation fighter with thrust vectoring engines, has engine power on par with the F-16. Photo: @RBC-Ukraine.

Dear Readers, please watch the video: Russian aircraft swarm into Ukraine, "pursuing and destroying" Kiev's F-16s. Video source: @Nghe An TV.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/vi-sao-ten-lua-s-400-la-noi-so-lon-nhat-cua-phi-cong-f-16-ukraine-post268179.html