Ukraine's F-16 squadron commander warns of air-to-air missile shortage

Ukraine's F-16 squadron commander warns of severe air-to-air missile shortage

The commander of Ukraine's F-16 squadron, callsign Phantom, has publicly confirmed a severe shortage of air-to-air missiles for the country's F-16 fleet, forcing pilots to conserve munitions and, during some combat missions, rely on the aircraft's built-in cannon against Russian aerial threats. Speaking to the American channel Newsmax in an interview distributed by the Ukrainian Air Force, Phantom called for additional deliveries of AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles as well as Patriot air defense systems, or alternatively a license to produce them in Ukraine.

Key points

F-16 squadron commander Phantom told Newsmax Ukraine needs more AIM-9 and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles for its F-16s
The shortage is severe enough that pilots must conserve missiles and sometimes use the F-16's 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon to engage Russian aerial threats
Phantom also called for additional Patriot air-defense missiles or a license to produce them
Phantom said an aircraft without armament is a 'tool that makes no sense'
The interview was distributed by the Ukrainian Air Force
War Zone had previously reported on the same missile shortage and cannon reliance
In May 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force reported a pilot had to eject after using the cannon against an aerial target

Why it matters

First-hand confirmation from the F-16 squadron commander turns what had been reported by outside outlets into an official Ukrainian acknowledgment of a munitions gap that limits how the country's Western fighter jets can be used. Reliance on a 20mm cannon against aerial targets is more dangerous for pilots and less effective against certain threats, raising the operational risk of every sortie. The call for either more deliveries or a domestic production license points to a longer-term sustainment issue: aircraft supplied without adequate armament undermine the deterrent and defensive value allies intended the F-16s to provide.

What happened

The commander of Ukraine's F-16 squadron, who uses the callsign Phantom, gave an interview to the American channel Newsmax that was subsequently distributed by the Ukrainian Air Force. In it, he stated that Ukraine urgently needs additional air-to-air missiles — specifically the AIM-9 and AIM-120 — for its F-16 fighters, alongside further supplies of Patriot surface-to-air missiles. According to Phantom, the shortage of air-to-air missiles has reached the point where Ukrainian F-16 pilots must conserve their munitions, and during some combat missions they have had to engage Russian aerial threats using the aircraft's built-in 20mm six-barrel M61A1 Vulcan cannon. He framed the request as a choice between increased allied deliveries and a license for Ukraine to produce the weapons domestically, warning that an aircraft without armaments is "a tool that makes no sense." The specialized publication War Zone had previously reported on the same shortage and on the F-16's reliance on its cannon in such conditions. In May 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that a pilot had to eject after using the cannon against a target — an incident War Zone noted illustrates the additional risks of cannon engagements, particularly against small, slow targets and at night.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian-language coverage leads with a quote from the squadron commander emphasizing that pilots "must economize," foregrounding the operational burden on Ukrainian crews and the urgency of resupply. The reports center the Ukrainian Air Force as the source of the warning and frame the issue as a direct appeal to Western partners — either for more missiles or for a license to produce them domestically.

Background

Ukraine has received F-16 fighter jets from Western partners. The aircraft carry air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 and AIM-120, with a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon installed as a fallback weapon. The specialized publication War Zone had earlier reported on the same shortage of air-to-air missiles for Ukrainian F-16s and on the resulting reliance on the aircraft's onboard cannons.