Ukraine accelerates domestic missile and bomb production amid air defense gaps

Ukraine is working to reduce its dependence on Western military hardware while facing increased Russian ballistic missile attacks on critical infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that establishing domestic production of U.S.-designed Patriot interceptors will require between one and several years due to licensing requirements and regulatory delays.

To bridge this defensive gap, Ukrainian companies are advancing indigenous military technologies. Two national firms are actively developing domestic ballistic missiles to target Russian rear positions. Simultaneously, the Ukrainian military is procuring the locally produced "Equalizer" guidance kit, created by DG Industry and defense cluster Brave1. The system converts standard unguided bombs into precision glide munitions compatible with Soviet-era aircraft and Western platforms such as the F-16.

Sources: NEXTA, NV, Point, The Insider, Українська правда