Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets reportedly ran short of US-made air-to-air missiles for more than three weeks in late 2025, leaving the aircraft with limited ability to intercept Russian drones and missiles.
Three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday that Ukraine had only a handful of US-made AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for its entire F-16 fleet from late November to mid-December 2025 after supplies from partners temporarily dried up.
One of the sources told Reuters that, for nearly a month, Ukraine had little or nothing to arm some of its F-16 jets with for air defense missions.
The shortage occurred as Russia was preparing a major winter air campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, underscoring Kyiv’s dependence on Western allies for missiles and other air defense systems.
During the shortage, Ukrainian pilots conducted daytime sorties and attempted to shoot down drones using rotary cannons, one source said. Night operations were considered too dangerous because Russian drone attacks typically occur after dark.
Pilots also attempted to reuse missiles that had failed to fire during earlier missions after maintenance, occasionally succeeding, the source added.
Ukrainian F-16 pilots primarily rely on older variants of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile produced in the 1970s and 1980s, the sources said. Despite their age, these missiles have proved a relatively inexpensive way to intercept Russian drones and cruise missiles.
The shortage was resolved in December when Ukraine received additional AIM-9 missiles from partner countries shortly before a major Russian attack, the sources said, though they declined to identify the suppliers.
A fourth source told Reuters that NATO members Germany and Canada had recently supplied Sidewinder missiles and confirmed there had been a temporary dip in deliveries.
Ukraine continues to face difficulties securing sufficient missiles for its extensive air defense network as Russia launches large waves of drones and missiles during major strikes.
F-16 jets, supplied by Kyiv’s allies in 2024, have become part of Ukraine’s airborne air defense system. According to one source cited by Reuters, Ukrainian F-16s have intercepted around 2,000 drones and missiles since entering combat operations.