Ukraine moves to develop domestic missiles and glide bombs amid air defense shortages

Amid intensified Russian ballistic missile strikes, Ukraine is accelerating efforts to strengthen its domestic defense industry while facing long delays for Western systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that setting up domestic production of U.S.-designed Patriot systems under American licensing could take up to several years due to bureaucratic hurdles.

To mitigate severe shortages of air defense interceptors and reduce dependency on foreign military aid, Ukrainian companies are developing native ballistic missiles, though technical challenges currently impede mass manufacturing. Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces are adopting the "Equalizer" precision glide bomb kit developed by DG Industry and the Brave1 incubator. The system converts standard unguided aviation bombs into standoff precision munitions compatible with both Soviet-era aircraft and Western fighters.

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