Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of air defense missiles, aviation expert Konstantin Krivolap said.

Axar.az reports, citing Ukrainian media, that Krivolap said the use of fighter aircraft to intercept jet-powered Shahed drones is consuming Ukraine’s stocks of AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles.

"We currently have a major shortage of missiles, not only for intercepting ballistic weapons but also for shooting down conventional aerodynamic targets," Krivolap said.

"While we are fighting jet-powered Shaheds without having our own jet interceptors, 80% of them are being shot down with the help of fighter aircraft. This consumes AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles, and now we are running out of means to engage them. We have already used up a very large part of our stocks. So now we have a complete shortage of all these missiles,” Krivolap said.

The expert also compared different Patriot interceptor variants. He said the PAC-3 CRI has an interception probability of around 70%, while two missiles would be needed to raise the probability above 80%.

"PAC-3 CRI also intercepts them, but its probability is around 0.7. To achieve a probability of more than 80%, two such missiles need to be launched. As for PAC-3 MSE – the most powerful and effective version – its interception probability exceeds 80%. We have already learned to shoot down ballistic missiles flying toward us with a single missile of this type. This is a high level of achievement,” Krivolap added.