Ukraine advances domestic missile and bomb production amid air defense shortages

Ukraine is accelerating efforts to develop domestic military hardware to mitigate severe air defense shortages and reliance on Western supply chains. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that two Ukrainian companies are working on indigenous ballistic missiles, though technical hurdles remain before mass production can begin.

Additionally, efforts to establish domestic production of American-designed Patriot air defense systems under licensing face regulatory delays, with deployment expected to take between twelve months and several years. To address urgent defensive vulnerabilities following intensified Russian ballistic missile attacks, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are acquiring the locally produced "Equalizer" guidance module. Developed by DG Industry with support from the Brave1 initiative, the kit converts standard aerial bombs into long-range precision glide munitions suitable for both Soviet-era and Western fighter jets.

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