Spain, Belgium, Poland send 20mm ammunition to Ukraine for F-16 drone defense

October 2, 2026 at 12:31 AM2 min

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Spain, Belgium, and Poland have begun transferring 20mm ammunition to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said. The ammunition is needed for F-16 fighter jets intercepting Russian jet-powered drones, as expensive air defense missiles are impractical for constant use.

Key Facts

Spain, Belgium, and Poland have begun supplying Ukraine with 20mm ammunition, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
The ammunition is intended for F-16 fighter jets used to intercept Russian jet-powered drones.
Sybiha said Ukraine is seeking private manufacturers to purchase a package of several million rounds of 20mm ammunition.
Ukraine is urging partners to order jet-engine interceptor drones, with Ukrainian private manufacturers ready to ramp up production if funding is timely.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces intercept 70% of drones overall and 57% of jet-powered drones.

Ammunition Deliveries

Spain, Belgium, and Poland have started transferring 20mm ammunition to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced. Sybiha said the issue became critical after the emergence of Russian jet-powered drones. He stated that he and Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara spent an entire day working on the 20mm caliber issue and secured a solution for a significant period.

F-16 Drone Interception

The ammunition is needed for F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine is using against Russian jet drones. Sybiha explained that constantly using expensive air defense missiles against drones is impractical. He said F-16s are the most effective option aside from air defense systems, and Ukraine is deploying them on a large scale. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces intercept 70% of drones overall and 57% of jet-powered drones.

Supplier Expansion

Kyiv is looking for private manufacturers to purchase 20mm ammunition. Sybiha hopes an upcoming visit will allow agreement on a package of several million rounds. Ukraine is also urging partners to order interceptor drones with jet engines. Ukrainian private manufacturers are ready to increase production if they receive timely funding.