F-16 AGAINST RUSSIAN “SHAHEDS”! Why are fighter jets still needed if Ukraine has interceptor drones? (video commentary)

11/06/2026

Weapons of War

Why does Ukraine use expensive F-16 fighter jets against Russian “Shaheds” when it has much cheaper interceptor drones?

Operator Starsky explains why intercepting a slow drone can be difficult even for a modern fighter jet, what advantages F-16s have, and why drones cannot fully replace combat aviation.

According to a Ukrainian F-16 commander with the callsign “Phantom,” Ukrainian fighter jets have destroyed about 4,700 Russian attack drones, including approximately 1,100 in October alone. There is also a known case in which one pilot shot down nine drones during a single sortie.

How do Ukrainian pilots counter Russia’s mass attacks, and why does every interception require a high level of skill? Watch the new episode of Operator Starsky!