Ukrainian Armed Forces are faced with a shortage of missiles for the F-16
Quick Look
- Ukraine's armed forces are experiencing a severe shortage of air-to-air missiles for F-16 fighters, including the AIM-9 and AIM-120, forcing pilots to limit their use of ammunition.
- This was reported by the French publication Le Monde, citing a statement by the squadron commander with the call sign Phantom.
- Military personnel are calling on Western partners to increase supplies or allow local production.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ukraine uses F-16 fighter jets provided by Western partners to counter Russian aerial targets, including UAVs. Effective use of these aircraft requires air-to-air missiles of varying ranges.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) are experiencing an acute shortage of air-to-air missiles, particularly for F-16 fighters, so pilots are forced to set limits on the use of ammunition. The French publication Le Monde reports about the shortage of weapons.
“A fighter without missiles is a useless tool,” the newspaper quotes the statement of the squadron commander with the call sign Phantom. He said that, in addition to ammunition for the F-16, there are not enough AIM-9 missiles (for hitting targets at short range) and AIM-120 (for hitting targets at medium and long range), which the Ukrainian side is trying to use against Russian jet UAVs.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine call on Western partners to increase the supply of aviation ammunition and anti-aircraft missiles for Patriot systems as soon as possible, or to allow Ukraine to produce them on the territory of the republic.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Western partners will increase supplies of aviation ammunition to Ukraine in the coming weeks
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When is the next shipment of AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles expected?
- What specific volumes of actual missiles are in the warehouses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces?
- Are there alternative sources of supply besides Western partners?
