Denmark sends ammo to Ukraine for F-16 guns to down drones

Denmark has rushed more than 50,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition to Ukraine for the cannons on its F-16 fighter jets, and Ukrainian pilots are already firing them at Russia’s jet-powered Shahed-type attack drones, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Oct. 23, 2026.

The ministry announced the delivery on X, saying Denmark sent the rounds on an expedited basis in response to a Ukrainian request. It described aviation, and the F-16 in particular, as one of the most effective tools against jet-powered Shaheds, and said destroying them requires sufficient stocks of ammunition.

“We are grateful to Denmark for its quick and effective response to our request for additional ammunition. This speed matters directly for strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and protecting people from Russian air attacks,” said Minister of Defence Evgeniy Khmara.

Every F-16 carries an internal M61A1 Vulcan, a six-barrel rotary cannon that fires about 6,000 rounds per minute. Using the gun against drones lets pilots save their far more expensive guided missiles for cruise missiles and other high-priority targets, and 20 mm rounds are held in much larger quantities around the world than Patriot interceptors or Western air-to-air missiles.

The guns burn through ammunition quickly, with Bloomberg reporting that destroying a single jet-powered drone can take about 150 rounds and that, at the current intensity of Russian attacks, Ukraine could need around 10,000 rounds a day. At that rate, the Danish shipment would cover roughly 330 engagements.

Russia began using jet-powered versions of its Geran drones, the Russian-built derivatives of the Iranian Shahed-136, in significant numbers in early 2026. The newer jet models can carry up to 90 kg (198 pounds) of explosives, fly up to 1,000 km (620 miles) and reach speeds of up to 600 km/h (373 mph), making them much harder to catch than the earlier propeller-driven drones. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat has said Ukraine shoots down about 60% of the jet-powered drones, compared with roughly 90% to 95% for other types.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said combat aviation, primarily the F-16, accounts for 55% to 60% of all intercepts of jet-powered Shaheds, and that Ukraine has expanded contracts to keep its F-16 squadrons supplied with 20 mm rounds. Germany has delivered its first batch of F-16 ammunition for countering the drones, and Belgium and Spain have also sent urgent shipments.

Denmark has been one of Ukraine’s main F-16 partners, pledging 19 of the jets and hosting early training for Ukrainian pilots. Ukraine is also testing several domestically built interceptor drones designed to catch jet-powered Shaheds, while its F-16 pilots continue to use their cannons against the drones with the new Danish rounds.