Ukraine pursues domestic missiles amid Patriot production delays

Ukraine is accelerating efforts to develop domestic ballistic missiles and precision-guided weaponry to counter ongoing Russian strikes and address critical gaps in Western air defense deliveries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that manufacturing U.S.-designed Patriot air defense interceptors locally under American licenses will take from 12 months to several years due to regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles. In response to these delays and intensive Russian ballistic missile attacks, domestic defense firms are working to build indigenous ballistic missiles.

Additionally, the Ukrainian armed forces are procuring the locally developed "Equalizer" guidance kit. Developed by DG Industry with the Brave1 defense cluster, the system converts unguided aerial bombs into precision glide munitions compatible with Soviet-era jets and Western platforms like the F-16.

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