Kyiv faces a shortage of missiles for these air defense systems. They are considered the most effective in fighting Russian ballistic missiles and are crucial in defending the Ukrainian capital, which is increasingly becoming a target of attacks.
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“We plan to acquire the technical capabilities to produce our own missiles with a Ukrainian team by the end of 2026. These will be American missiles made by our own forces,” Zelensky told journalists.
“We are currently working on obtaining licenses for the ‘Patriot’,” he said.
US President Donald Trump last week announced his intention to allow Ukraine to produce missiles for Patriot batteries.
However, the possible conditions and timelines for the PAC-3 missile production license have not yet been specified.
Ukrainian media outlet The Kyiv Independent, citing a Ukrainian official, reported that the US defense industry group Lockheed Martin supports granting the necessary licenses to Ukraine.
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Creating such industrial capabilities would take more than a year and would not address Kyiv’s urgent needs.
US interceptor missile stocks are also under pressure due to recent conflicts in the Middle East.
According to data from the US think tank FPRI, the production of one PAC-3 MSE missile takes 24 months, and its engine – 30 months.
On Monday, nine European countries and Ukraine announced the creation of a coalition to develop European anti-ballistic capabilities for the continent’s protection.
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