乌克兰的防空漏洞正日益严重，而爱国者拦截弹短缺并非唯一问题。F-16战斗机是应对俄罗斯新型喷气式无人机的最佳手段；这些无人机如今频繁在夜间、也经常在白天轰炸乌克兰平民。但乌克兰依赖西方援助来维持其战斗机机队，而延误已导致其大部分F-16战机无法投入服役。
Ukraine’s air-defense vulnerabilities are becoming critical, and a shortage of Patriot interceptors isn’t the only problem. F-16 fighter jets are the best way to counter Russia’s new jet-powered drones that are now pounding Ukrainian civilians night and often day. But Ukraine relies on Western help to maintain its fighter-jet fleet, and delays have left most of its F-16 fleet out of commission.
截至目前，俄罗斯本月已向乌克兰发射约2000架喷气式无人机，而6月约为350架。这些新型无人机的飞行速度可达每小时375英里，速度过快，乌克兰此前用于拦截早期“沙赫德”型号无人机的拦截机难以应对。目前，乌克兰只能拦截俄罗斯55%的喷气式无人机，而对较老“沙赫德”无人机的拦截率则超过90%。
So far this month Russia has launched about 2,000 jet-powered drones at Ukraine, compared to some 350 in June. These new drones fly up to 375 miles an hour—too fast for the interceptor drones Ukraine has used to counter earlier Shahed models. Ukraine intercepts 55% of Russia’s jet drones, compared to more than 90% of older Shaheds.