KYIV, September 3, 2026 — Ukraine’s F-16 fighter fleet is facing a shortage of air-to-air missiles, forcing the Ukrainian Air Force to ration weapons and, during some daytime missions, use the aircraft’s internal cannon against Russian drones and cruise missiles.
The shortage mainly affects the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. With Russia continuing large-scale drone and missile attacks, the shortage is putting additional pressure on Ukraine’s layered air-defense network.
Ukrainian Forces Closely Track Missile Deliveries
According to reporting by The War Zone, Newsmax journalist Shelby Wilder spoke with a senior Ukrainian commander who described the urgency surrounding incoming missile shipments. Ukrainian personnel are reportedly tracking deliveries almost minute by minute to determine whether new weapons will reach airbases before another Russian attack.
Ukrainian Air Force commander “Phantom,” who leads the 107th Wing, confirmed the shortage.
“Yes, that’s true,” Phantom said when asked about the lack of munitions. He also stressed that an aircraft without weapons cannot fulfill its mission.
Phantom said the F-16 provides a major technological improvement over Ukraine’s Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters. However, its main priority remains protecting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from Russian aerial attacks.
Pilots Ration Missiles and Use Cannons
To conserve missile stocks, Ukrainian F-16 pilots have sometimes used the aircraft’s M61A1 Vulcan 20mm rotary cannon against aerial targets during daytime sorties.
Earlier reporting also documented Ukrainian F-16 pilots using cannons when missile supplies were insufficient. Cannon engagements are limited to daylight because engaging fast-moving drones or missiles at night is considered significantly more difficult and dangerous.
The shortage means commanders must carefully consider each missile launch, particularly when inexpensive drones may require interception while more capable missiles are being reserved for other threats.
AMRAAM Supplies Also Used by NASAMS
The shortage of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles affects both Ukraine’s F-16 fleet and its NASAMS ground-based air-defense systems, which also use the missile.
This means the same limited AMRAAM stocks must support both fighter aircraft and ground-based air-defense operations, forcing Ukrainian forces to balance their requirements.
Ukraine is also facing pressure on its Patriot interceptor supplies. Patriot systems are particularly important for defending against Russian ballistic missiles.
Reuters reported in August that Patriot interceptor stocks had been heavily depleted globally because of demand from the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. Reuters cited a CSIS estimate that about 65% of the U.S. Patriot interceptor inventory was expended between February and July 2026, leaving fewer than 850 missiles from an estimated 2,330 before the Iran war began. Exact inventory figures remain classified.
Ukraine Continues to Request More Missiles
On August 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received some Patriot missiles and AIM-family missiles, but did not disclose quantities or specific AIM variants.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has said its forces use AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, including with F-16 and NASAMS systems.
The shortage follows an earlier supply problem. Reuters reported in March that Ukrainian F-16 units had experienced an air-to-air missile shortage for more than three weeks during late November and mid-December of the previous year. Sources said the fleet had only a small number of AIM-9 Sidewinders available.
Ukraine has also used older AIM-9L and AIM-9M Sidewinders, many of which were manufactured decades ago, against Russian drones and cruise missiles.
Pressure to Increase Production
The missile shortage comes as Russia continues large-scale drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. Ukrainian commanders are calling on Western partners not only to provide additional interceptors but also to expand long-term missile production capacity.
Phantom has called for more AIM-9, AIM-120 and Patriot interceptors, while also urging greater production capacity in Ukraine or Europe.
The situation highlights that maintaining Ukraine’s F-16 fleet requires not only aircraft but also a continuous supply of compatible weapons. The fighters remain part of Ukraine’s wider air-defense network alongside ground-based systems and other methods used to counter Russian aerial attacks.
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