The 107th Separate Aviation Wing is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Force, operating the Western built F-16.
Due to operational secureness, it is not known where the Wing is based, how many F-16s it operates, or whether all the F-16s Ukraine received are in service with the unit as of February 2026.
The Ukrainian F-16 fleet, and tactical aviation operations in general, are highly decentralized. Aircraft may scramble from one location and land back at a different air base. This dispersion tactic is used to make it harder for Russian forces to target or intercept Ukrainian aircraft. For this purpose, Ukraine has introduced truck-based mobile complexes for mission planning, maintenance, and rearmament of F-16.
This strategy has most likely influenced Ukraine's decision to procure the Swedish-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen, which was designed for decentralized operations in Sweden's heavily forested terrain.
History
The unit was created in 2024 as first of its kind. Historically Ukraine organized its air assets into Aviation Brigades. This can be seen as a step of Ukraine's effort to modernize and restructure its armed forces.
The unit draws from pilots of several Aviation Brigades, including the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade. They were sent to Romania to be trained on the F-16, as part of the F-16 training coalition.
On 26 August 2024, the 68th Network Warfare Squadron of the United States Air Force reported that it had worked with Danish, Norwegian and Ukrainian specialists to install, program and adapt a number of electronic warfare systems for the delivery of aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force.
On 26 August 2024, an F-16 piloted by Oleksii Mes "Moonfish" crashed under unknown circumstances in Rivne Oblast. Ukrainian affiliated sources initially reported that Mes had been killed in a combat mission, but the loss of the aircraft was not confirmed. However, Mes could easily be identified as one of the first Ukrainian F-16 pilots due to his frequent press appearances. Several days later the Wall Street Journal reported that a Ukrainian F-16 had been destroyed. Following this, the loss was officially acknowledged by the Ukrainian Air Force and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The cause of the crash remains unclear, with a friendly fire incident, pilot error or damage sustained in combat being regarded as possible scenarios. As a result of the loss, Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk on 30 August 2024 with Anatolii Kryvonozhko appointed as acting commander. People's Deputy and former member of Servant of the People Maryana Bezuhla claimed that the loss of the aircraft had been a result of friendly fire, further accusing the Armed Forces of Ukraine of perpetuating a culture of unprofessionalism and corruption. On 18 September, the Verkhovna Rada unanimously voted to remove her from her position as deputy chair of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense.
On 3 August 2025 a battle flag was presented to the deputy commander of the Aviation Wing by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On 12 April 2025, an F-16 piloted by Pavlo Ivanov "Scratch" was shot down by a Russian S-400 missile system while performing a JDAM strike mission during the 2025 Sumy offensive.
On 16 May 2025, an F-16 was lost while attempting to counter a Russian Geran-2 drone attack. The pilot was able to eject successfully and was rescued by a CSAR team.
On 29 June 2025, an F-16 piloted by Maksym Ustymenko "Smoke" was lost while attempting to counter a Russian Geran-2 drone attack.
In February 2026, Yurii Ihnat denied rumours that the aviation wing contained privately contracted pilots from the United States and the Netherlands.
Aircraft The unit operates an unknown number of F-16 Fighting Falcons, which Ukraine has received from the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway since 2024.
Gallery
References