Ukraine Turns to F-16 Cannons As Russian Jet Drones Breach Defenses
Kyiv is negotiating with European governments and manufacturers for 20mm ammunition as faster Russian Shaheds breach its defenses. Estimated demand reaches 10,000 rounds a day, while Ukraine also seeks earlier F-16 deliveries.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.
Ukraine is seeking tens of thousands of 20mm cannon rounds for its F-16 fighters as Russian jet-powered drones inflict mounting damage and expose gaps in the country’s air defenses.
Talks are underway with European governments and ammunition producers, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.
They described cannon fire as the cheapest option available for immediate use against the faster drones, according to Bloomberg.
The scale of the requirement is substantial: each interception consumes about 150 rounds, putting estimated daily demand at roughly 10,000.
Ammunition Available, Deliveries Urgent
F-16 rounds are widely available internationally. Kyiv’s challenge is securing enough ammunition quickly as Russia sends dozens of jet-powered Shaheds against Ukraine each day.
The search comes as Ukraine approaches the fifth winter since Russia’s invasion.
Its stocks of U.S.-made Patriot air-defense munitions have been exhausted, with the Iran war putting further pressure on worldwide supplies.
The jet-powered Shaheds fly considerably faster than their propeller-driven predecessors.
Their speed gives them characteristics closer to cruise missiles and makes them harder to intercept.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has put Ukraine’s interception rate against attacks involving the jet-powered drones at about 57%.
Strikes Reach Central Kyiv
Recent attacks have penetrated defenses protecting sensitive sites in the capital.
The National Academy of Sciences was struck this week, following a hit on the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Services earlier in the month.
Hospitals, homes, shops and infrastructure have also come under attack. Strikes continuing through the day and night have been accompanied by a rising death toll.
The pressure on Ukraine’s defenses coincides with Russian plans to increase military expenditure next year by more than 25%, adding urgency to Kyiv’s effort to obtain ammunition and aircraft.
Kyiv Seeks Earlier Aircraft Deliveries
Ukraine is also trying to bring forward the arrival of three Belgian F-16s currently scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026, Zelensky said on X on Tuesday.
Belgium and Spain are among the countries that have already supplied ammunition for Ukraine’s fighter aircraft, he said.
“There are specific countries with which we are working on specific aviation packages,” Zelensky wrote. “There will be a boost in the near future.”
Kyiv is pursuing additional defensive technology alongside the ammunition purchases.
Following talks with defense officials and military leaders on Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine had identified initial prototypes of a system capable of countering jet-powered drones.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
Choose Clash Report as a preferred source and see our reporting first in Top Stories.