Ukraine has begun using American F-16 fighters in combat to strike ground targets. According to sources at Avia.pro, the aircraft are being actively loaded with bombs and missiles, which significantly expands their capabilities on the battlefield. In particular, one fighter can carry up to eight GBU-39/B SDB precision bombs in one sortie. 

According to published information, on February 14, an F-16AM fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force was spotted in the skies over the Kyiv region. On board the aircraft were two AIM-120B/C AMRAAM guided missiles, two AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, eight GBU-39/B SDB precision bombs and two external fuel tanks. Such data is confirmed by the Associated Press. 

The F-16 fighters transferred to Ukraine have high combat effectiveness, especially when striking ground targets. The GBU-39/B SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) guided air bombs can hit targets at a distance of up to 80-100 kilometers.

The transfer of F-16s to Ukraine was a high-profile event in the history of the conflict. For a long time, the Ukrainian army used mostly outdated Soviet-made equipment. The appearance of the F-16 was the result of lengthy negotiations between Kiev and Western partners. The first training of Ukrainian pilots began in the summer of 2024 in European countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. 

Earlier, Avia.pro journalists had already published footage of an F-16 fighter flying over the border of the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporizhia regions.