New Video Shows Ukrainian F-16 Scoring Gun Kill on Russian Drone

Key Takeaways

• F‑16 uses M61 cannon to down Shahed drone
• Gun intercepts cost far less than missile launches
• Ukraine revives anti‑aircraft guns for low‑cost drone defense
• Low‑altitude gun fights increase pilot risk versus missiles
• Ukrainian air force logged >1,000 UAV/ missile kills Jan‑2026

Summary

Ukrainian Air Force F‑16s have been captured on video using their M61 20 mm Vulcan cannon to shoot down a Russian Shahed (Geran‑2) drone, marking the clearest gun‑kill footage to date. The engagement highlights a broader shift toward gun‑based interceptions, which are far cheaper than missile solutions against low‑cost, one‑way attack drones. Ukraine has revived a range of anti‑aircraft guns, from DShKs to larger systems like the Gepard, and even adapted civilian aircraft with miniguns, contributing to over 1,000 UAV and cruise‑missile kills by January 2026. However, low‑altitude gun engagements increase risk to pilots and raise collateral‑damage concerns.

Pulse Analysis

The Shahed‑136, rebranded by Russia as the Geran‑2, has become a staple of its aerial campaign in Ukraine since late 2022. Weighing roughly 200 kg and capable of loitering for hours, the cheap, one‑way UAV can be produced in the thousands, overwhelming traditional surface‑to‑air missile (SAM) defenses. Each drone costs a fraction of a modern air‑to‑air missile, forcing defenders to expend expensive interceptors on low‑value targets. This asymmetry has driven Kyiv to explore alternative, low‑cost kill methods, including gunfire from both ground and airborne platforms.

Gun‑based solutions have re‑emerged as a pragmatic answer. Ukrainian forces have fielded legacy DShK heavy machine guns, refurbished Gepard anti‑aircraft guns, and portable search‑light systems to illuminate and engage Shahed swarms. The most striking example is the F‑16’s M61 Vulcan cannon, capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute of 20 mm ammunition, delivering a kinetic kill without depleting missile inventories. Similar tactics are employed by civilian‑converted aircraft such as the Antonov An‑28, whose crew‑served miniguns have reportedly downed around 150 drones, proving the versatility of gun platforms across the spectrum.

While economically attractive, gun engagements impose new operational risks. Pilots must close to low altitude, aligning the jet’s nose with a slow‑moving target, exposing themselves to ground fire and increasing the chance of collateral damage from stray rounds. The balance between preserving missile stockpiles and protecting high‑value assets will shape Ukraine’s air‑defence doctrine in the months ahead. Successes like the recent F‑16 kill signal that kinetic air‑defence can be a viable component of layered protection, prompting other nations facing drone swarms to reassess the role of legacy anti‑aircraft artillery in modern combat.