107th Aviation Wing (Ukraine)

The 107th Separate Aviation Wing is an 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.^[1][2]

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.^[3][4]

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.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

On 26 August 2024, an F-16 piloted by Oleksii Mes 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.^[8] Several days later the Wall Street Journal reported that a Ukrainian F-16 had been destroyed.^[9][10] Following this, the loss was officially acknowledged by the Ukrainian Air Force and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.^[11][12] The cause of the crash remains unclear, with a friendly fire incident, pilot error or damage sustained in combat being regarded as possible scenarios.^[13][14][15] 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.^[16] 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.^{[17][18][19][20]} 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.^[21]

On 3 August 2025 a battle flag was presented to the deputy commander of the Aviation Wing by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.^[22]

On 12 April 2025, an F-16 piloted by Pavlo Ivanov was shot down by a Russian S-400 missile system while performing a JDAM strike mission during the 2025 Sumy offensive.^[23][24][25]

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.^[26][27]

On 16 May 2025, an F-16 piloted by Maksym Ustymenko was lost while attempting to counter a Russian Geran-2 drone attack.^[28][29]

In February 2026, Yurii Ihnat denied rumours that the aviation wing contained privately contracted pilots from the United States and the Netherlands.^{[30][31][32][33]}

The unit operates an unknown number of F-16 Fighting Falcons, which Ukraine has received from the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway since 2024.^[34][35][36]