Ukraine expands domestic missile and glide bomb programs amid Patriot delays

Ukraine is expanding domestic defense initiatives to counter intensified Russian ballistic missile strikes and address severe air defense shortfalls. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that manufacturing Patriot air defense systems locally under American licenses faces delays ranging from one to several years due to regulatory and licensing requirements.

To mitigate this vulnerability, two Ukrainian defense firms are developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of striking deep within Russian territory. Concurrently, the Ukrainian military is procuring the locally developed "Equalizer" glide bomb guidance kit. Developed by DG Industry alongside the Brave1 defense platform, the module converts unguided bombs into precision weapons usable by Soviet-era and Western aircraft. These domestic projects aim to bolster long-range strike capabilities while lessening reliance on Western military aid during extended defense delays.

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