For more than three weeks — from late November to mid-December 2024 — Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets effectively had no means to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. According to a report by Reuters, citing three independent sources familiar with the situation, the squadron faced a critical shortage that was previously undisclosed and closely guarded by all parties involved.
The news agency reports that during this period, the entire F-16 fleet had only a handful of American AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles remaining. One source stated bluntly that Ukrainian pilots literally "had nothing to hang on the planes" for almost an entire month. All three sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of military vulnerabilities.
To provide some measure of cover under these dire conditions, pilots were forced into risky improvisations. During daylight hours, they flew sorties attempting to destroy Russian drones using onboard rotary cannons — weapons not designed for such tasks. Night missions had to be abandoned entirely due to the extreme risk, despite the fact that Russian forces typically launch the bulk of their kamikaze drones under the cover of darkness. Some pilots took the desperate step of loading missiles that had failed during previous launches, hoping that after technical maintenance, they might finally function. In several instances, this gamble reportedly paid off.
Ukrainian F-16 pilots traditionally rely on AIM-9 variants — specifically the Lima and Mike modifications produced in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite their age, these munitions provide Ukraine with a relatively cost-effective way to intercept Russian drones and cruise missiles. The shortage of these specific missiles was particularly painful because more modern AIM-120 missiles cost over $1 million each, making them economically unsustainable for use against cheap kamikaze drones.
The supply gap was eventually closed in December when Ukraine received a shipment of AIM-9 missiles from partners, arriving just before another massive Russian strike. While sources declined to name the specific supplier countries, a fourth Reuters source confirmed that Germany and Canada have supplied Sidewinder missiles in recent months and acknowledged there had been a "certain gap" in supplies, without explaining the cause. The Canadian Department of National Defence officially confirmed the transfer of AIM-9M-8 missiles from Canadian Armed Forces stocks, noting it was the latest in a series of such deliveries. The German Ministry of Defense declined to comment on specific deliveries, citing security concerns.
The shortage extended beyond the F-16 fleet. Due to the lack of American AIM-120 missiles, Norwegian NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems — a vital element of Ukrainian air defense — also partially ceased operations. Simultaneously, a deficit emerged in RIM-7 missiles, which Ukraine has been integrating into Soviet-era anti-aircraft systems since 2022. Consequently, several key components of the country's air defense were weakened just as Russia ramped up its bombardment intensity.
The context of these failures makes the situation even bleaker. This winter, Russia conducted one of its largest strike campaigns against Ukrainian infrastructure since the start of the full-scale war, leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without heating, electricity, or water for months. In January, President Zelensky publicly and urgently called on allies for more missiles, primarily for Patriot systems needed to intercept Russian Iskander ballistic missiles.
Reuters was unable to establish the exact cause of the supply interruptions — whether the delays were the fault of the United States or European partners. One source only mentioned that allies notified Kyiv of a lack of available stocks, without specifying reasons or a timeline for resumption. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, Air Force, and the Office of the President did not respond to requests for comment.
The White House stated in response to the inquiry that Washington supports Ukraine by selling weapons through the PURL mechanism — a system where the U.S. provides armaments to NATO allies for subsequent transfer to Kyiv. A U.S. official also claimed "significant progress" toward a peaceful settlement. According to NATO, since the summer of 2024, approximately 75% of all missiles for Ukrainian Patriot systems and 90% of munitions for other anti-aircraft complexes have been supplied through this mechanism.
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense reported that it transferred a "significant number" of NASAMS interceptors this winter "to ensure the system could continue to protect Ukrainian citizens from deadly airstrikes." The exact number of units delivered was not specified.
The overall picture painted by the Reuters investigation raises serious questions about the reliability of Western arms supply chains in a protracted war. As Ukraine remains in dire need of Western missiles, a need unlikely to diminish soon, global competition for defensive weaponry is intensifying — particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.