Ukraine expands domestic missile and glide bomb production amid air defense delays

Ukraine is ramping up efforts to produce domestic weaponry as delays in Western military aid and licensing requirements slow the deployment of Patriot air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that licensing hurdles could delay local Patriot production by up to several years, leaving critical infrastructure vulnerable to Russian ballistic strikes.

In response, two Ukrainian defense firms are developing indigenous ballistic missiles, though technical challenges hamper rapid mass production. To address immediate capability gaps, the Ukrainian armed forces are procuring the newly tested "Equalizer" glide bomb kit. Created by DG Industry and the Brave1 incubator, the system converts unguided munitions into precision-guided weapons for deployment from Soviet-era aircraft, with plans for eventual integration onto Western F-16 and Mirage jets.

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