To counter Russian high-speed drones, Belgium sends 10 more F-16s to help Ukraine, switching to cannons to save missiles

Belgium will provide more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help it fight against Russian high-speed drones.

Russia continues to use a large number of drones to attack Ukraine. The new "Geran" series of drones are very fast, making it more difficult for the Ukrainian army to intercept them. Foreign military news websites reported that Belgium will expand its military aid to Ukraine and plans to deliver 10 F-16 fighter jets by the end of this year, an increase of three from the original seven. It is also considering providing 20 mm cannon ammunition to allow the Ukrainian army to shoot down drones at a low cost and save expensive air-to-air missiles.

The foreign military news website "Army Recognition" reported that Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced the expansion of F-16 military assistance after meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky on the 15th. Of the 7 fighters originally scheduled for delivery, 3 are available for combat and 4 are used for dismantling parts. It has not yet been announced whether the additional 3 aircraft are capable of flying. Belgium’s overall plan is to provide Ukraine with up to 53 F-16 fighters by 2029.

It is worth noting that Russia's new jet-powered drones have greatly increased their flight speeds. The "Pelargonium 3" has a speed of about 300 kilometers per hour, the "Pelargonium 4" reaches 350 kilometers per hour, the "Pelargonium 5" reaches 500 kilometers per hour, and some derivatives are close to 600 kilometers per hour. In comparison, some of Ukraine's existing interception drones have a maximum speed of about 460 to 500 kilometers per hour, making it difficult to catch up with high-speed targets from behind.

Although the F-16 fighter jet can intercept drones at high speed, it is very expensive to continue to use AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-120 missiles to attack drones. Therefore, Belgium is considering providing domestically produced 20 mm cannon ammunition for use by the M61A1 "Vulcan" cannon mounted on the F-16. This type of cannon can fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute. Ukraine estimates that each downed drone consumes about 150 rounds, which can reduce interception costs.

However, most of the F-16 fighters handed over by Belgium are close to the decommissioning threshold of 8,000 flight hours, and their remaining lifespan and maintenance energy will affect their actual combat effectiveness. As Russian drones continue to be upgraded, Ukraine has also accelerated the development of interceptor drones with a speed of 700 kilometers per hour, hoping to reduce the burden of F-16 air defense and reserve the fighter aircraft for intercepting cruise missiles and fighting Russian fighter jets.