Ukraine F-16 Missile Shortage: Pilots Fly With Cannons Only

Russia-Ukraine battle (Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense)

When Ukraine's advanced F-16 fighter jets scramble for combat missions, they should be armed with state-of-the-art missiles. But reality tells a different story: pilots are increasingly forced to rely solely on their aircraft's internal rotary cannon, as stocks of air-to-air missiles have dwindled to critically low levels.

The commander of Ukraine's 107th Fighter Wing, known by his call sign "Phantom," revealed the severity of the crisis in an interview with The War Zone. "An aircraft without weapons is useless," the senior officer stated bluntly, describing a situation where every missile must be carefully counted and weighed against anticipated threats.

The F-16s arrived in Ukraine during summer 2024 and quickly became a cornerstone of the country's air defense network. Operating day and night against Russian cruise missiles and drones, the jets face a constant race against time due to ammunition shortages. Their primary armament includes AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, but these are in high global demand and are also used by the NASAMS air defense systems protecting Kyiv.

When missiles run out, pilots must resort to the aircraft's internal M61A1 20-millimeter rotary cannon against aerial targets—a dangerous tactic reminiscent of earlier eras of air combat. Yet the method has proven effective: this past May, Ukrainian pilots successfully destroyed three aerial targets in a single operation using cannon fire alone.

Ukraine's air force (Myrhorod Tactical Aviation Brigade 831)

As Russia intensifies attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of winter, Ukraine's military is calling on Western partners not only to increase interceptor supplies but also to permit domestic production and tighten sanctions on technological components reaching Moscow.

Commander "Phantom" emphasized that without a stable and reliable supply chain, even the most advanced fighter jets and the bravest pilots could find themselves helpless against airborne threats. The battle over every missile has become a daily reality, where every second and every interceptor can mean the difference between life and death.