Ukraine seeks domestic defense solutions amid Patriot air defense delays

Ukraine faces years of vulnerability to Russian ballistic missile strikes as administrative hurdles and U.S. licensing requirements delay domestic production of Patriot air defense systems by up to several years, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Heavy Russian missile attacks on critical energy infrastructure have underscored the urgent need for additional interceptors and alternative solutions.

To bridge the gap, two domestic defense contractors are developing native ballistic missiles, though technical challenges hamper rapid scaling. Concurrently, the Ukrainian military is procuring the newly tested "Equalizer" glide bomb conversion kit. Developed by DG Industry and the Brave1 incubator, the system equips unguided bombs with guidance systems for long-range strikes from Soviet-era aircraft and planned future integration with Western F-16 and Mirage jets.

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