Ukraine runs low on R-73 missiles against Russian drones, MiG-29s revert to 1970s weapons

Ukraine's air force is facing a shortage of R-73 air-to-air missiles, the weapon it has relied on most heavily to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones. The R-73 had proven to be the most effective tool for this specific mission, but sustained use throughout the war has significantly depleted available stocks.

To make up for the shortfall, Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets are increasingly turning to munitions that date back to the 1970s. These older missiles had already been considered obsolete by 2022, at the start of the full-scale invasion, and had largely fallen out of active use. Now, however, Ukraine's military has been forced to bring them back into service.

The development illustrates the strain that a prolonged war places on Ukraine's stockpiles of military hardware and ammunition. As the most modern and effective options run low, forces are compelled to look for alternatives — even when those alternatives are technologically outdated compared to current standards.

The situation also highlights a broader ongoing challenge: Russia's continued use of jet-powered drones keeps pressuring Ukraine's air defenses, forcing the country to adapt its available resources to maintain the ability to counter these attacks. It reflects a wider pattern seen in protracted conflicts, where armed forces are pushed to fall back on older weapon types once modern alternatives become scarce or difficult to resupply.