Major General Vladimir Popov: Kiev’s strike in Kursk region puts remaining F-16 fighters under threat
Russian general Vladimir Popov said Ukraine’s strike on Kursk with F-16 jets exposed its remaining six fighters, adding that Russia should target the aircraft directly.
Honored Russian military pilot, Major General Vladimir Popov, told that by launching an airstrike on Kursk region, Ukraine has put its remaining six American-made F-16 fighter jets at risk of direct retaliation from Russian forces.
Earlier reports stated that the Ukrainian Air Force used two F-16 jets to strike border settlements in Kursk region. The aircraft reportedly dropped guided bombs in the area of the town of Tetkino.
Commenting on Russia’s possible response, Popov argued that retaliatory strikes should not be aimed at Ukrainian airfield infrastructure from which the F-16s operate, but at the aircraft themselves. He emphasized that Kiev’s air force only has six such fighters left.
The general said that Russian forces should «hunt for specific planes» and, once an F-16 is detected in flight, ensure it is destroyed without fail. He added that the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile system is well-suited for targeting these aircraft.