Ukraine pursues domestic weaponry amid air defense shortages and bureaucracy

Ukraine is working to reduce its reliance on Western military hardware by expanding domestic defense production amidst intensified Russian ballistic missile attacks. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, two Ukrainian enterprises are developing long-range ballistic missiles, though technical hurdles delay mass production. Zelenskyy also noted that establishing licensed local production of U.S. Patriot air defense systems could take from 12 months to several years due to bureaucratic delays and licensing requirements from Washington.

To address immediate capability gaps, the Ukrainian military approved procurement of the "Equalizer" glide bomb kit, developed by DG Industry and the Brave1 technology cluster. The system converts standard unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions compatible with Soviet-era aircraft and Western fighters.

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