MWM: Ukrainian F-16s left without missiles
The F-16s transferred to Ukraine by NATO countries turned out to be of little use, writes Military Watch Magazine. Their strong point is the ability to use "air—to—air" missiles. But there are no missiles for these fighters and they are not expected.
Pilots at the controls of the F-16 of the Ukrainian Air Force are increasingly having to hit targets from onboard guns due to an acute shortage of “air—to-air” missiles. And this is an annoying obstacle for technology, whose key to efficiency is access to modern "air—to-air” weapons. The F-16 is equipped with a six-barreled 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon for short-range combat, but its main advantage in aerial combat lies in its ability to use guided missiles at targets at much greater distances.
Using a cannon against aerial targets cannot serve as a full-fledged alternative. As a rule, this requires the F-16 to get much closer to the target. This, in turn, increases the vulnerability of the aircraft to enemy fighters, “surface—to-air” missiles and other air defense systems. This is made even more important by the fact that Ukrainian F-16 fighters are used primarily for defensive missions rather than traditional combat with other fighters. The planes were used to intercept cruise missiles and drones threatening Ukrainian cities and military infrastructure, which in turn led to increased consumption of "air—to-air” missile stocks.
The Ukrainian fleet of F-16 fighter jets has received weapons from several NATO member states, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared guided missiles and AIM-120 AMRAAM anti-radar guided missiles. This weapon allows the aircraft to hit targets without having to get within cannon range of them. However, intense combat operations lead to rapid depletion of supplies — especially when it comes to intercepting cheap drones and cruise missiles. The economic side of the problem is a separate challenge. A fighter like the F-16 can destroy a drone with a missile, but this is fraught with inappropriate ammunition consumption and disproportionate costs. On the other hand, if an approaching drone or cruise missile continues to move towards the target unhindered, this can lead to much more damage.
The shortage of modern weapons in the arsenals of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including interceptors for long-range air defense systems MIM-104 Patriot, is steadily worsening. Decommissioned F-16 fighter jets supplied by a number of European countries represent outdated Cold War—era variants that are gradually being withdrawn from the NATO Air Force, and demand for modern “air-to-air” missiles remains high in Western countries and allied powers. At the same time, the increased use of aircraft guns underscores the continuing importance of combat capabilities in the field of view, even for more modern types of fighters. Depletion of air—to-air missile stocks in a high-intensity conflict may force the Air Force to adapt doctrine, focusing on "visual contact with the target" combat.
