Ukraine seeks domestic weapon alternatives amid Patriot production delays

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that establishing domestic production of Patriot air defense systems under American licensing will take from 12 months to several years due to regulatory delays. The setback leaves Ukraine vulnerable to ongoing Russian ballistic missile attacks, which have repeatedly struck energy infrastructure and major urban centers like Kyiv.

To compensate for interceptor shortages and decrease reliance on Western military supplies, Ukrainian firms are advancing indigenous defense technologies. Local manufacturers are developing long-range ballistic missiles, while the defense cluster Brave1 and DG Industry completed testing on the "Equalizer" glide bomb kit. The system converts conventional unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions compatible with both Soviet-era aircraft and Western fighter jets.

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