Missile Shortage Undermines Ukrainian F-16 Combat Readiness

Ukrainian F-16 pilots are increasingly forced to rely on the aircraft’s internal M61A1 20 mm Vulcan cannon because stocks of AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are being tightly rationed. According to a senior Ukrainian Air Force commander who identifies himself by the callsign “Phantom,” the shortage means that some daytime sorties are flown with guns alone, even against Russian drones and cruise missiles. Each F-16 typically carries six Sidewinders, but the finite inventory must also support ground-based air-defense systems such as NASAMS, further depleting available missiles. In May 2025, an F-16 pilot reportedly destroyed three aerial targets with the cannon before an emergency ejection, illustrating the risks of gun-only engagements, especially at night. The Ukrainian Air Force is also exploring lower-cost 70 mm APKWS II rockets as an alternative for subsonic threats, but Phantom stresses that additional AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles remain essential.

Ukraine F-16 Missile Shortage Forces Pilots to Use Guns Missile Shortage Has Now Hit Ukrainian F-16 Force

Phantom confirmed the severity of the shortfall, stating that any aircraft without weapons is effectively useless. He emphasized that the primary mission of the F-16 fleet is to defend Ukrainian skies against unmanned drones and cruise missiles, and that delivering more aircraft without a sustainable weapons pipeline does not solve the problem. Newsmax journalist Shelby Wilder reported that Ukrainian personnel are monitoring missile shipments in real time, counting minutes until new stocks arrive, because the timing of the next major Russian strike is uncertain. Phantom also called for increased production or localized manufacturing of air-to-air missiles and Patriot interceptors to alleviate the shortfall.

Missile Shortage Has Now Hit Ukrainian F-16 Force Ukraine F-16 Missile Shortage Forces Pilots to Use Guns

• “Yes, that’s true. Any aircraft without weapons is … useless,” — Phantom

Missile Shortage Has Now Hit Ukrainian F-16 Force

• “We are focusing on defending our skies against Russian unmanned drones to protect our infrastructure inside the country,” — Phantom

Missile Shortage Has Now Hit Ukrainian F-16 Force

• “The F-16s in comparison with the legacy aircraft like MiG-29 or Su-27? This is kind of like a new technology,” — Phantom

Missile Shortage Has Now Hit Ukrainian F-16 Force

Despite the shortage, Ukrainian F-16s have achieved notable successes. In July 2026, a U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman publicly identified a Ukrainian F-16 that shot down a Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter in the eastern sector on July 8, 2026. These victories underscore the aircraft’s technological edge over legacy MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, but they also highlight the dependence on a steady flow of missiles to maintain combat effectiveness.

Missile Shortage Has Now Hit Ukrainian F-16 Force Ukraine F-16 Missile Shortage Forces Pilots to Use Guns