Ukraine’s F-16s Deployed to Shoot Down Jet-Powered Drones

The Ukrainian Air Force is deploying F-16 fighter jets to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this during a televised marathon broadcast while visiting Canada, according to Ukrinform.

To do this, the F-16 fighters are using AIM-9 and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles.

“We use these missiles on the F-16s to shoot down jet drones. It’s expensive, but sometimes, when there’s no other way to shoot down a particular jet drone, human life is more important and more valuable. That’s why we’ve sometimes deployed F-16s against such drones,” Zelensky said.

According to the President, while in Canada, he was briefed on a Ukrainian-Canadian project to develop a low-cost missile for destroying jet-powered drones.

“The guys have already built it; we’re waiting for the Canadian and Ukrainian teams to come to us in Ukraine so we can conduct live-fire tests. Because right now, this is the number one priority. We’re looking for this (a solution to the problem of countering jet drones—Ed.) everywhere, in Ukraine and beyond, so we need to move faster. Domestic production is a priority, but the most important thing is who can shoot them down faster and more effectively,” the head of state said.

He added that several teams in Ukraine are working on the issue of shooting down jet-powered drones. Ukrainian interceptor drones are already shooting down jet-powered Shaheds. Cheaper missiles can also be used to intercept enemy drones. Last year, an F-16 equipped with APKWS II missiles, which are effective against drones, was spotted in Ukraine.