F-16s Down Majority of Jet Drones Amid Munition Build-Up, Zelensky Says
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that combat aviation, primarily Western-supplied F-16 multirole fighters, accounts for 55 to 60 percent of interceptions against Russian jet-powered Shahed strike drones as Ukraine expands stockpiles of 20mm ammunition. Zelensky noted that Ukraine is also scaling up domestic automated turrets and low-cost interceptor missiles. To counter ballistic threats…
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Western F-16 fighter jets are responsible for intercepting a majority of Russian Shahed drones, accounting for 55 to 60 percent of all intercepts. Ukraine has increased procurement of 20mm ammunition for these jets, with deliveries now stable. The president emphasized that combat aviation is a crucial component of Ukraine's defense strategy against drone threats.
Zelensky outlined a multi-pronged approach to counter unmanned aerial vehicles, including inexpensive missiles, new solutions, turrets, and domestic production. He also highlighted the need for European Patriot interceptors to protect critical infrastructure during winter. European partners have agreed to provide interceptors through the NATO PURL program, though their delivery has been hindered by US missile exports to the Middle East.
Ukraine is also developing the FREYJA anti-ballistic missile system, a 10-nation collaborative effort aimed at accelerating deployment. Starlink terminals in Ukraine have been limited to 161 km/h, which has restricted the effectiveness of domestic interceptors. This has prompted calls for European alternatives to American satellite communication networks.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
