Ukraine's Air Force lost contact with an F-16 fighter jet during a combat mission on July 29 after the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency, the military confirmed. According to the military, the pilot was carrying out a mission to intercept Russian aerial targets in one sector of the front when an in-flight emergency forced the pilot to eject. The cause of the incident remains under investigation as specialists work to determine what led to the loss of the aircraft. The aircraft have been used for intercepting Russian missiles and drones during aerial strikes against Ukraine. They can also be deployed to launch missiles at Russian positions along the front line.