F-16 shot down 34 out of 35 missiles: what is Ukraine preparing for a retaliatory strike.

According to ТСН: Western fighters have become an important element in protecting the Ukrainian sky from cruise missiles, but Ukraine is actively working on the possibility of delivering a retaliatory strike using its own weapons.

Retired Lieutenant General and former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ihor Romanenko spoke about this on the air of "Ukrainian Radio".

Phenomenal accuracy of F-16

Commenting on the repulsion of the attack on the night of December 23, the general emphasized the important role of aviation. According to the representative of the Air Force Yuriy Ihnat, it was the pilots of the F-16 who intercepted almost all enemy cruise missiles: shot down 34 out of 35 targets.

"We see how effectively the F-16s worked… Fighters are a component of the anti-aircraft missile system against cruise missiles, and it is the most effective: speed at the target, onboard weapons are used."

At the same time, he noted that for a stable result, Ukraine needs to resolve the issue of supplying air-to-air missiles and training more pilots.

Thick Neptune and Flamingo

The general also shared details about the development of the domestic missile program. According to him, Ukraine already has developments that allow hitting the enemy at long distances.

The evolution of the Neptune missile has gone through three stages of modernization:

1. The basic version "coast-ship" (which sank the cruiser "Moskva").

2. "Long Neptune" (for strikes on ground targets).

3. "Thick Neptune" – the latest modification with a range of up to 1000 km.

An even more ambitious project is the Flamingo missile.

"The Flamingo missile has a range of 3000 km… The Russians are afraid of this missile. Therefore, we need to work proactively."

He added that manufacturers are currently working on developing guidance systems that will allow this missile to overcome enemy air defense and accurately hit targets.

Own Air Defense

Romanenko reminded that during the USSR, Ukraine did not have a complete production cycle for air defense means – most technologies remained in the Russian Federation. Currently, Ukrainian enterprises are actively working on creating their own short-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems (ADMS), and in the future – systems capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

It is worth noting that Ukraine currently cannot independently or jointly with European partners produce missiles for foreign air defense systems. However, Europe has suspended the supply of air defense missiles due to threats that Russia has begun to pose to European countries with drones.

The current situation underscores the importance of developing Ukraine's own air defense system, as dependence on external supplies may jeopardize the country's security. Active work on new missile systems and technologies will ensure Ukraine not only defense capability but also the ability to deliver retaliatory strikes in the face of threats from the enemy.