Ukraine turns to local defense options amid ballistic missile vulnerability

Ukraine is seeking strategies to bridge air defense shortfalls as Russian ballistic missile strikes intensify. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that bureaucratic delays and American licensing requirements will delay domestic production of Patriot missile systems by up to several years.

To reduce dependency on Western military hardware, Ukrainian defense firms are developing indigenous ballistic missiles, although technological hurdles currently limit mass production. Additionally, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are procuring the newly tested "Equalizer" glide bomb kit, developed by DG Industry and the Brave1 defense technology incubator. The system converts conventional unguided bombs into long-range precision-guided munitions compatible with Soviet-era aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-24, with future integration planned for Western F-16 and Mirage fighter jets.

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