Ukraine expands domestic arms production amid long delays for Western air defense systems

Ukraine is stepping up efforts to build domestic weaponry and air defense capabilities to counter intensifying Russian ballistic missile strikes and reduce reliance on foreign military aid. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that two Ukrainian companies are currently designing ballistic missiles, though mass production faces significant technical hurdles. Meanwhile, plans to manufacture American Patriot systems locally under U.S. licenses remain stalled by administrative processes and licensing delays, requiring up to several years before deployment.

To address immediate operational gaps, Ukrainian armed forces are acquiring the domestically produced "Equalizer" glide bomb conversion kit. Designed by DG Industry with support from the Brave1 cluster, the system converts unguided munitions into precision weapons compatible with both Soviet-era and Western fighter aircraft. Defense analysts note, however, that short-term solutions cannot fully offset the shortage of long-range interceptors needed to counter ballistic threats.

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