Ukraine Seeks Thousands of F-16 Rounds to Counter Russian Drones
Ukraine is negotiating with European partners to purchase hundreds of thousands of 20mm rounds for F-16 fighter jets to intercept increasing Russian jet-powered drone attacks.
The Government of Ukraine is negotiating with European nations and ammunition manufacturers to acquire hundreds of thousands of 20-millimeter rounds for its F-16 fighter aircraft. These rounds are intended for the M61A1 Vulcan rotary cannon to intercept a surge in Russian jet-powered attack drones, offering a more cost-effective alternative to expensive air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM.
The Ukrainian Air Force reports a sharp increase in Russian drone activity, with launches rising from 350 in June to approximately 2,850 in August. Ukraine may require up to 10,000 rounds per day to maintain this defense, as a single drone can require 150 rounds to destroy.
Belgium and Spain have already provided urgent ammunition deliveries to support these operations. Additionally, Belgium has agreed to transfer three more fighter jets by 2026. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that while seeking foreign ammunition, Ukraine is also developing domestic high-speed interceptor drones to counter the threat.
