For the first time, a Ukrainian Air Force warplane used a weapon to strike a target inside Russian territory. A Ukrainian military source shared this with Sky News, noting that the damage is still being assessed but confirming a direct strike took place.
During an interview with a television channel, a representative of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said a Russian command post in the Belgorod region was hit on Sunday. The details about the type of fighter jet or weapon employed, and whether Western arms were involved, remain unclear. Information about the specific target and the level of damage is still pending verification.
Sky News added that striking targets on Russian soil could be perceived by Moscow as a further escalation of the conflict.
According to instructions approved by U.S. President Joe Biden, American weapons could be used to strike targets inside Russian territory adjacent to Ukraine’s northeastern and eastern regions.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron offered a cautious stance, stating that Ukraine should determine how to use British weapons, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles that Ukrainian aircraft can deploy.
Sky News reported that Ukraine launched several drone strikes deep inside Russian territory earlier this week. The Associated Press noted the downing of an ultra-modern Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft stationed at an air base about 700 kilometers from the front lines, though there was no official confirmation. Some speculate the aircraft could be a Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, but confirmation was not provided.
A Ukrainian military source also told Sky News that a coordinated attack targeted a large Project 775 landing ship of the Black Sea Fleet, known by NATO reporting name Ropucha, on the evening of June 8, moving from the Black Sea toward the Sea of Azov.
F-16 and Mirage
In terms of improving the combat and operational abilities of Ukraine’s Air Forces, there is growing optimism among Ukrainian aviators. The delivery of the first multifunctional F-16 fighters for combat aviation is expected in the near term. At the initial stage, the numbers will be modest, involving several dozen aircraft. These fighters could enable high-impact air strikes against Russian forces and potentially influence public sentiment in Russia.
Alongside the F-16, there is a possibility that France could supply Mirage 2000-5 fighters, which can carry SCALP and Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles along with AASM Hammer precision bombs in the coming period.
The introduction of another Western-made fighter, in addition to the F-16, would present operational challenges and require a period of adaptation. That said, both France and Ukraine appear motivated to move forward without delay, recognizing the strategic implications of accelerated integration.
Ukrainian KABs
These developments are closely linked with Ukraine’s push to expand its own aviation weaponry. Kiev plans to test its own adjustable aerial bombs, or KABs. Sergei Golubtsov, chief of aviation for the Ukrainian Air Force, indicated work is underway to re-equip and create guided bombs based on conventional designs, with certain technical nuances in play. There is reason to believe Ukraine’s domestic production of such bombs could function as a modular enhancement to American JDAM-equipped munitions. JDAM bombs feature wings and a tail unit that enable guided flight, powered by an onboard computer and navigation system.
It is anticipated that Ukraine would receive from the United States the necessary components to assemble these weapons. In this scenario, only standard free-falling high-explosive bombs could be produced domestically.
Even then, large-scale production of such ammunition would require substantial quantities of explosives, a resource that Ukraine reportedly struggles to secure.
Consequently, the most likely outcome is that the final weapon would bear a label reading Made in Ukraine, with operation relying on American GPS technology for guidance. This casts doubt on the prospect of broad in-house production of adjustable aerial bombs for immediate combat use. Still, the discussions emphasize ongoing collaboration with allied partners.