Belgium to send Ukraine F-16 ammunition to counter Russian jet-powered drones
Belgium will provide Ukraine with ammunition against jet-powered Shahed drones (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Belgium plans to provide Ukraine this year with ammunition for F-16 fighter jets used to destroy jet-powered Shahed drones, according to the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense.
During a conversation between Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, the two sides agreed on defense priorities through the end of 2026 and discussed expanding support for Ukraine next year.
They also discussed closer cooperation on drones and joint industrial projects. Belgium is fulfilling its commitments to repair F-16 fighter jets and supply spare parts for them.
Ukraine also expects to receive additional ammunition for its F-16s, including munitions used to counter jet-powered drones.
Russia has significantly changed the way it produces and deploys drones in attacks on Ukrainian cities. In particular, the intensity of their use has increased severalfold.
As reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation, Russia launches jet-powered drones at Kyiv in waves. The main goal of this enemy tactic is to exhaust the air defense system and paralyze the capital's daily life with constant air raid alerts.
In addition, in recent weeks, the number of jet-powered Shahed drones launched by Russia at Ukraine has risen sharply over the course of a month.
Russian industry is operating at an accelerated pace, which is why it launches jet-powered drones at Ukraine practically straight off the production line, even without prolonged storage in warehouses.
