If this is one from a few weeks ago (presuming so based on “first”), this was a fight between the Su-35 versus three F-16s and a Patriot radar. The version I heard is that the Su-35 targeted one of the F-16s and got taken out by another.
Very rarely in modern air-to-air combat is anything a comparable match. The F-16 is more maneuverable than the Su-35, but the Su-35 is generally more advanced. The numbers and the Patriot likely gave Ukraine the advantage, but then so did the ongoing collapse of Russia’s air defense network.
It was basically an ambush by the Ukrainians. One F16 was the bait. And two additional F16s were flying low to the ground and came up to fire once the Su-35 took the bait. And one of the two managed to hit it. With additional help from the patriot radar.
If this is one from a few weeks ago (presuming so based on “first”), this was a fight between the Su-35 versus three F-16s and a Patriot radar. The version I heard is that the Su-35 targeted one of the F-16s and got taken out by another.
Very rarely in modern air-to-air combat is anything a comparable match. The F-16 is more maneuverable than the Su-35, but the Su-35 is generally more advanced. The numbers and the Patriot likely gave Ukraine the advantage, but then so did the ongoing collapse of Russia’s air defense network.
It was basically an ambush by the Ukrainians. One F16 was the bait. And two additional F16s were flying low to the ground and came up to fire once the Su-35 took the bait. And one of the two managed to hit it. With additional help from the patriot radar.