#zsu

Ukrainians are making good use of those F-16s. A Ukrainian pilot flying one set a new record for shooting down cruise missiles.

For the first time in the history of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a Ukrainian-operated jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles during a single mission in December, including two with the aircraft cannon, the Air Force claimed on Jan. 7. The interception reportedly took place during a mass Russian aerial strike on the morning of Dec. 13, 2024, which saw Russia deploy almost 200 drones and 94 missiles. "For the first time in the history of the Fighting Falcon, an F-16 fighter jet destroyed six Russian cruise missiles in one combat mission," the Air Force Command said on social media. Ukraine has received a number of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands and Denmark, deploying them multiple times in air defense roles during Russian mass strikes on cities and infrastructure. "They say that even Americans couldn't believe you did it," Air Force Command spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said in an interview with the pilot, whose identity was not revealed.

While F-16s are not practical for shooting down smaller drones, Ukraine has displayed skill at neutralizing larger missiles launched by Russia.

Real life in Ukraine makes Top Gun seem lame.

The aviator said that he approached a group of cruise missiles and, despite their electronic warfare countermeasures, managed to lock on to targets. The F-16 reportedly shot down one pair of Russian projectiles with medium-range missiles and then another pair with short-range missiles. Ukrainian F-16s are equipped with four air-to-air medium-range and short-range missiles. Without missiles and low on fuel, the pilot was then recalled from the area but spotted another missile heading toward Kyiv. He moved to intercept it and opened fire from his aircraft cannon against the projectile, which was flying over 650 kilometers per hour, a difficult and risky maneuver, the Air Force said. "A few bursts from the cannon — and an explosion... then another one! 'A secondary detonation,' I thought, but, as it turned out, there were two missiles," the pilot said, adding he did everything as taught by U.S. instructors. According to the Air Force Command, Ukrainian pilots have learned how to shoot down missiles with aircraft cannons in simulators in the U.S. but have never attempted it during actual combat before.

🐖 Ранкове частування для покинутих кабанчиків на передовій.

Свійські тварини не навчені жити диким життям, тож більшість з них не виживе без людини, особливо коли шукає їжу на замінованих і обстрілюваних територіях, ще й в зимову пору.

⠀⠀⠀ぃ ZOSAN UNIVERSE é um projeto com funcionamento exclusivo na plataforma Spirit Fanfics, cujo intuito é aumentar o número de histórias com os personagens Roronoa Zoro e Vinsmoke Sanji, da obra One Piece, do mangaká Eiichiro Oda, como casal protagonista.

Engineering forces of Ukraine are a type of special forces in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are designed to provide engineering support for combat operations. There are units of engineering troops in each of the types of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as separately in the Main Directorate of Operational Support.

Among the main tasks in peacetime are the detection and destruction of explosive objects and obsolete ammunition, participation in the protection of hydraulic structures and bridges during floods and ice drifts, elimination of the consequences of natural disasters - in Ukraine together with the National Emergency Service and abroad in peacekeeping missions.

In war, Engineer Forces perform tasks both at the front and in the rear, helping to solve logistical or defense tasks :

engineering reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and facilities;

construction and equipment of fortification structures (trenches, trenches and communication passages, shelters, dugouts, storage facilities, etc.), arrangement of field structures for the accommodation of troops (housing, economic, medical);

building various types of engineering barriers, carrying out the installation of minefields, equipment of non-explosive barriers (anti-tank ditches, escarpments, counterscarps, pits, etc.);

demining of the area and objects;

preparation and maintenance of troop movement routes;

equipment and maintenance of crossings on water obstacles, including the construction of bridges;

extraction and purification of water in the field and others;