Ukraine pursues domestic missiles and glide bombs amid air defense shortages

As intensified Russian ballistic missile strikes highlight defense gaps across Ukraine, Kyiv is seeking both short- and long-term solutions to protect its infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that establishing domestic production of American Patriot air defense systems under US licenses could take up to several years due to regulatory hurdles.

To manage this period of ballistic vulnerability, Ukrainian defense companies are pursuing domestic alternatives. Two local firms are developing indigenous ballistic missiles capable of targeting deep rear areas, though technological challenges remain before mass production can begin. Additionally, Ukraine's military is procuring the newly developed "Equalizer" precision-guided glide bomb kit, created by DG Industry and the Brave1 defense initiative. The system converts conventional Soviet-era aerial bombs into long-range precision munitions for deployment on Ukrainian aircraft, including Soviet-designed jets and Western platforms like the F-16.

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