Unconfirmed reports claim that a Ukrainian F-16 was responsible for shooting down a Russian Su-35S Flanker fighter over the weekend. If the latest claim proves to be true, this would be the first time an F-16 has shot down a Russian aircraft, a mission it was originally designed to do some 50 years ago. While we don’t know for sure what was responsible for bringing down the Russian jet, there’s no doubt that the F-16 is becoming an increasingly important part of the Ukrainian Air Force’s arsenal, for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
未經(jīng)證實(shí)的報(bào)道稱，上周末，一架烏克蘭F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)擊落了一架俄羅斯蘇-35S“側(cè)衛(wèi)” 戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)。如果最新傳聞屬實(shí)，這將是F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)首次擊落俄羅斯戰(zhàn)機(jī)，而這項(xiàng)任務(wù)最初設(shè)計(jì)于大約50 年前。雖然我們尚不清楚擊落俄羅斯戰(zhàn)機(jī)的具體原因，但毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)，F(xiàn)-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)正成為烏克蘭空軍武器庫(kù)中越來(lái)越重要的組成部分，無(wú)論是空對(duì)空還是空對(duì)地任務(wù)。
 
An official claim of the destruction of the Su-35S — one of Russia’s most modern combat aircraft — was posted by the Ukrainian Air Force on June 7. On the social media platform X, the claim was accompanied by a silhouette of a Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft — a different but related jet. Meanwhile, a brief statement on the Ukrainian Air Force’s Telegram channel said the Su-35S was downed “as a result of a successful operation in the Kursk direction.”
6 月7日，烏克蘭空軍正式宣布擊落了一架蘇-35S戰(zhàn)機(jī)——俄羅斯最先進(jìn)的戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)之一。在社交媒體平臺(tái)X上，該聲明還配上了一張?zhí)K-34“后衛(wèi)”攻擊機(jī)的輪廓圖——這架戰(zhàn)機(jī)與烏克蘭空軍的蘇-34“后衛(wèi)”不同，但屬于同一類型。與此同時(shí)，烏克蘭空軍在其Telegram頻道上發(fā)布了一份簡(jiǎn)短聲明，稱這架蘇-35S戰(zhàn)機(jī)“是在庫(kù)爾斯克方向的一次成功行動(dòng)中”被擊落的。
 
That the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) lost a Su-35S in a morning operation on the 7th seems beyond doubt.
俄羅斯空天軍（VKS）在 7 日上午的一次行動(dòng)中損失了一架蘇-35S，這似乎是毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)的。
 
Imagery shared online shows a crash site, indicating the loss of a Su-35S, although the cause remains unclear. One video is taken from one of the helicopters involved in the search-and-rescue effort for the pilot. Based on open-source imagery, this would be the eighth example of the Su-35S lost in combat since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
網(wǎng)上分享的圖像顯示了墜機(jī)現(xiàn)場(chǎng)，表明一架蘇-35S戰(zhàn)機(jī)失蹤，但原因尚不清楚。一段視頻是從參與飛行員搜救工作的一架直升機(jī)上拍攝的。根據(jù)公開來(lái)源的圖像，這將是自2022年2月俄羅斯全面入侵以來(lái)，蘇-35S戰(zhàn)機(jī)在戰(zhàn)斗中損失的第八架。
 
It’s notable that the Ukrainian Air Force, while claiming the destruction of the jet, didn’t state the weapon that brought it down. While it may have been a crewed fighter, the Ukrainian Air Force is also responsible for long-range surface-to-air missiles that have previously taken a toll on Russian aircraft operating in their own airspace.
值得注意的是，烏克蘭空軍在宣稱擊落該戰(zhàn)機(jī)時(shí)，并未說(shuō)明使用何種武器將其擊落。雖然可能是有人駕駛戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)所為，但烏克蘭空軍同樣負(fù)責(zé)操作遠(yuǎn)程地對(duì)空導(dǎo)彈系統(tǒng)——這類武器此前曾對(duì)在俄方領(lǐng)空活動(dòng)的軍機(jī)造成過(guò)打擊。
 
According to unverified claims, which appear to have first been published in the German newspaper Bild, the Su-35S was shot down by an F-16. Furthermore, the same source claims that targeting data was provided by a Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, at a distance of around 200-300 kilometers (124-186 miles) from the Russian fighter. At this stage, there’s no confirmation that the Saab 340 AEW&C, two of which have been pledged to Kyiv by Sweden, have actually arrived in Ukraine.
據(jù)未經(jīng)證實(shí)的傳聞（該傳聞似乎最早刊登在德國(guó)報(bào)紙 《圖片報(bào)》上），這架蘇-35S戰(zhàn)機(jī)是被一架 F-16 戰(zhàn)機(jī)擊落的。此外，同一消息來(lái)源還聲稱，目標(biāo)數(shù)據(jù)是由一架薩博340預(yù)警機(jī)（AEW&C）提供的，距離這架俄羅斯戰(zhàn)機(jī)約200-300公里（124-186英里）。目前，尚無(wú)證據(jù)表明薩博340預(yù)警機(jī)（ 瑞典已承諾向基輔提供兩架 ）已抵達(dá)烏克蘭。
 
Provided the claims are true, and once again, they are entirely unverified at this point, the F-16 would have worked alongside the AEW&C platform in a way that TWZ outlined when it was first confirmed that the radar planes were being supplied to Ukraine:
如果這些說(shuō)法屬實(shí)，而且目前這些說(shuō)法完全未經(jīng)證實(shí)，那么F-16將與 AEW&C平臺(tái)協(xié)同工作，正如TWZ在首次確認(rèn)向?yàn)蹩颂m提供雷達(dá)飛機(jī)時(shí)所概述的那樣：
 
“[The] Saab 340 AEW&C will be able to work as a fighter control asset, detecting targets, prioritizing them, and then assigning them to the fighters for interception. The same data can, of course, also be passed on to other air defense assets. However, the F-16 and Western-supplied ground-based air defense systems are most relevant in this regard, since the radar plane is fitted with the NATO-standard lix 16 datalix communications system.”
薩博340預(yù)警機(jī)將能夠作為戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)控制設(shè)備，探測(cè)目標(biāo)，確定目標(biāo)的優(yōu)先級(jí)，然后分配給戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)進(jìn)行攔截。當(dāng)然，同樣的數(shù)據(jù)也可以傳遞給其他防空設(shè)備。不過(guò)F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)和西方提供的地面防空系統(tǒng)在此方面最具備協(xié)同作戰(zhàn)能力，因?yàn)樵擃A(yù)警機(jī)配備了符合北約標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的lix16數(shù)據(jù)鏈通信系統(tǒng)。
 
“l(fā)ix 16 will allow the operators onboard the twin-turboprop Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft to provide a real-time air defense ‘picture’ and targeting data to compatible systems in the air and on the ground, essentially filling a critical node in a modern integrated air defense system (IADS).”
“l(fā)ix 16將允許雙渦輪螺旋槳薩博 340 AEW&C飛機(jī)上的操作員向空中和地面的兼容系統(tǒng)提供實(shí)時(shí)防空‘圖像’和目標(biāo)數(shù)據(jù)，本質(zhì)上填補(bǔ)了現(xiàn)代綜合防空系統(tǒng) (IADS) 中的一個(gè)關(guān)鍵節(jié)點(diǎn)。”
 
The characteristic ‘balance beam’ radar fairing on the upper fuselage of the aircraft carries the Saab (previously Ericsson) Erieye active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. This can detect a variety of air and sea targets at ranges of up to around 280 miles, with the aircraft typically operating at an altitude of 20,000 feet.
該飛機(jī)機(jī)身上部獨(dú)特的“平衡木”雷達(dá)整流罩搭載薩博（原愛立信）“愛立眼”有源電子掃描陣列 (AESA) 雷達(dá)。該雷達(dá)可探測(cè)距離最遠(yuǎn)約280英里（約450公里）的各種空中和海上目標(biāo)，飛機(jī)通常在20000 英尺（約6000 米）的高度飛行。
 
If an F-16 downed a Su-35S without AEW&C support, that would arguably be even more impressive. This would also mark the first air-to-air kill by an F-16 in Ukrainian service (other than drones and cruise missiles).
如果一架F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)在沒有預(yù)警機(jī)支援的情況下?lián)袈湟患芴K-35S，那無(wú)疑會(huì)更加令人印象深刻。這也將是烏克蘭服役的F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)首次空對(duì)空擊落戰(zhàn)機(jī)（無(wú)人機(jī)和巡航導(dǎo)彈除外）。
 
Meanwhile, Ukraine has so far lost three F-16s, although it’s not clear how many of these were due to enemy engagements.
與此同時(shí)，烏克蘭迄今已損失了三架 F-16，但尚不清楚其中有多少架是由于敵方交戰(zhàn)而損失的。
 
The most recent loss was last month, in an “emergency situation” that the Ukrainian Air Force said happened after the pilot “destroyed three air targets and was working on the fourth, using an aircraft cannon.” The pilot is said to have taken the fighter away from a settlement before successfully ejecting.
最近一次損失發(fā)生在上個(gè)月，當(dāng)時(shí)烏克蘭空軍稱飛行員“在一次緊急情況下”駕駛戰(zhàn)機(jī)“摧毀了三個(gè)空中目標(biāo)，并使用機(jī)炮攻擊第四個(gè)目標(biāo)”。據(jù)稱，飛行員駕駛戰(zhàn)機(jī)飛離定居點(diǎn)后成功彈射逃生。
 
“Thanks to the prompt work of the search and rescue team, the pilot was quickly found and evacuated,” the Ukrainian Air Force added. “The pilot’s well-being is satisfactory, he is in a safe place, his life and health are not in danger. A commission has been appointed to obxtively clarify all the circumstances, and it has already begun work.”
烏克蘭空軍補(bǔ)充道：“感謝搜救隊(duì)的迅速行動(dòng)，飛行員很快被找到并撤離。飛行員狀況良好，目前處于安全地點(diǎn)，生命和健康沒有危險(xiǎn)。我們已成立一個(gè)委員會(huì)，客觀查明所有情況，并已開始工作。”
 
In April, Ukrainian F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov, 26, “was killed in battle defending his native land from the invaders,” the Ukrainian Air Force stated at the time.
烏克蘭空軍當(dāng)時(shí)表示， 今年4月，26歲的烏克蘭F-16飛行員帕夫洛·伊萬(wàn)諾夫“在保衛(wèi)祖國(guó)、抵御侵略者的戰(zhàn)斗中犧牲”。
 
In August 2024, F-16 pilot Oleksiy Mes died during what was, at that time, Russia’s largest aerial barrage of the war. Before his F-16 went down, Mes, who went by the callsign “Moonfish,” shot down three Russian cruise missiles and a one-way attack drone, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed at the time.
2024年8月，F(xiàn)-16戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)飛行員奧列克西·梅斯（Oleksiy Mes） 在當(dāng)時(shí)俄羅斯最大規(guī)模的空襲中犧牲。烏克蘭空軍當(dāng)時(shí)聲稱，在F-16墜毀之前，代號(hào)“月魚”（Moonfish）的梅斯擊落了三枚俄羅斯巡航導(dǎo)彈和一架單向攻擊無(wú)人機(jī)。
 
In all, around 85 operational F-16s have been promised to Ukraine. That total includes 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, and 12 from Norway (with the same country providing 10 more that will be used for spare parts), while Belgium says it will supply 30. Of this grand total, it should be noted that at least some of the jets are not being sent to Ukraine but are instead being used for training Ukrainian pilots, primarily at the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. The U.S. is now donating airfrxs it says are not airworthy, which you can read more about here.
總共有約85架F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)承諾提供給烏克蘭。其中荷蘭24架，丹麥19架，挪威12架（挪威還提供了10架用于備件），比利時(shí)表示將提供30架。值得注意的是，在這批戰(zhàn)機(jī)中，至少有一部分并未送往烏克蘭，而是用于訓(xùn)練烏克蘭飛行員，主要在羅馬尼亞的歐洲F-16訓(xùn)練中心（EFTC）。美國(guó)目前正在捐贈(zèng)其聲稱不適航的F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)，您可以在此處了解更多信息。
 
Generally, few details have been released about how Ukraine is using its F-16s, although official and unofficial imagery reveals specific details of load-outs used in operational air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The type has also been flying combined air operations and has been noted on various occasions lobbing Small Diameter Bombs (SDB).
總體而言，關(guān)于烏克蘭如何使用其F-16戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的細(xì)節(jié)鮮有公布，但官方和非官方圖像揭示了其在空對(duì)空和空對(duì)地任務(wù)中使用的具體裝備細(xì)節(jié)。該型戰(zhàn)機(jī)還參與了聯(lián)合空中作戰(zhàn)，并多次被發(fā)現(xiàn)發(fā)射小直徑炸彈（SDB）。
 
Provided that an F-16 downed the Su-35S, it would have almost certainly used an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). This is the aircraft’s primary air-to-air weapon, carried alongside the AIM-9X Sidewinder and the earlier AIM-9L/M Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles. The same missiles are also used by Ukrainian F-16s flying regular counter-drone and counter-cruise-missile sorties.
假設(shè)一架F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)擊落了蘇-35S，它幾乎肯定會(huì)使用AIM-120先進(jìn)中程空對(duì)空導(dǎo)彈（AMRAAM）。這是該戰(zhàn)機(jī)的主要空對(duì)空武器，與AIM-9X“響尾蛇”導(dǎo)彈和更早的AIM-9L/M“響尾蛇”紅外制導(dǎo)空對(duì)空導(dǎo)彈一同攜帶。烏克蘭的F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)也使用這些導(dǎo)彈執(zhí)行常規(guī)反無(wú)人機(jī)和反巡航導(dǎo)彈任務(wù)。
 
In regards to AMRAAM, even before F-16s were delivered to Ukraine, TWZ noted some of the advantages this missile would bring for the Ukrainian Air Force:
關(guān)于AMRAAM，甚至在F-16交付烏克蘭之前，TWZ就指出了這種導(dǎo)彈將為烏克蘭空軍帶來(lái)的一些優(yōu)勢(shì) ：
 
“Considering Ukraine’s air force is being haunted by the long-range R-37 air-to-air missile, which Russian aircraft are firing at Ukrainian aircraft at great distances to limit their own risk, giving Ukraine a longer stick — any longer stick — would certainly be prized. It is what Ukrainian fighter pilots seem to believe would make the biggest difference, too.”
考慮到烏克蘭空軍正受到遠(yuǎn)程 R-37 空對(duì)空導(dǎo)彈的困擾，俄羅斯飛機(jī)為了降低自身風(fēng)險(xiǎn)，會(huì)從很遠(yuǎn)的距離向?yàn)蹩颂m飛機(jī)發(fā)射這種導(dǎo)彈，給予烏克蘭更長(zhǎng)的打擊力量——任何更長(zhǎng)的打擊力量——無(wú)疑會(huì)受到重視。烏克蘭戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)飛行員似乎也認(rèn)為，這會(huì)帶來(lái)最大的改變 。
 
There is also the very real possibility that it was a ground-based air defense system used by the Ukrainian Air Force to bring down the Russian jet.
還有一種可能性是，烏克蘭空軍使用地基防空系統(tǒng)擊落了俄羅斯戰(zhàn)機(jī)。
 
In the past, the Patriot air defense system, in particular, has been used to down fixed-wing tactical aircraft and helicopters flying within Russian airspace, and it has reportedly successfully targeted aircraft at a range of around 100 miles. Starting in May 2023, Ukraine began pushing forward Patriot batteries to reach deep into Russian-controlled airspace. Most dramatically, a string of Russian aircraft was downed over Russian territory that borders northeastern Ukraine.
過(guò)去， 愛國(guó)者防空系統(tǒng)尤其被用來(lái)?yè)袈涠砹_斯領(lǐng)空內(nèi)飛行的固定翼戰(zhàn)術(shù)飛機(jī)和直升機(jī)，據(jù)報(bào)道，該系統(tǒng)成功擊落了約100英里范圍內(nèi)的飛機(jī)。從 2023年5月開始，烏克蘭開始推進(jìn)愛國(guó)者導(dǎo)彈系統(tǒng)，深入俄羅斯控制的領(lǐng)空。最引人注目的是，一系列俄羅斯飛機(jī)在與烏克蘭東北部接壤的俄羅斯領(lǐng)土上空被擊落。
 
In December 2023, Ukrainian Patriot operators used similar tactics against tactical jets flying over the northwestern Black Sea.
2023年12月，烏克蘭愛國(guó)者導(dǎo)彈操作員對(duì)飛越黑海西北部上空的戰(zhàn)術(shù)噴氣式飛機(jī)使用了類似的戰(zhàn)術(shù)。
 
Regardless, after many months of waiting for the F-16 and repeated refusals from Washington, Ukraine has rapidly introduced the type to operational service.
盡管如此，在等待F-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)數(shù)月并屢遭華盛頓方面拒絕后，烏克蘭已迅速將該機(jī)型投入實(shí)戰(zhàn)部署。
 
It was less than a year ago that the F-16 was first confirmed as being in the country, and since then, the type’s mission scope has expanded. Ukraine is clearly grappling with the challenge of introducing an altogether new, Western combat aircraft, differing in many respects from its Soviet-era equipment.
不到一年前，F(xiàn)-16戰(zhàn)機(jī)首次被確認(rèn)已運(yùn)抵該國(guó)，此后該機(jī)型的任務(wù)范圍不斷擴(kuò)大。烏克蘭顯然正在努力應(yīng)對(duì)引入全新西方戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)的挑戰(zhàn)，這種戰(zhàn)機(jī)在許多方面都與其蘇聯(lián)時(shí)代的裝備截然不同。
 
Regardless of whether or not an F-16 was involved in the demise of the Su-35S over the weekend, the type’s significance in the air war is only set to grow, as experience builds and additional examples are delivered.
無(wú)論上周末蘇-35S的墜毀是否與F-16有關(guān)，隨著經(jīng)驗(yàn)的積累和更多實(shí)例的出現(xiàn)，該機(jī)型在空戰(zhàn)中的重要性只會(huì)越來(lái)越大。