OMM Newsroom
The United States has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine. Despite the deal, valued at about $2.1 billion, production of the missiles has not yet begun, and Ukraine may have to wait until the mid-2030s to receive them. Two people familiar with the US decision said deliveries would begin several years into the next decade, AnewZ reports.
The decision is considered one of the most significant US authorizations for sales of defensive weapons to Kyiv during Donald Trump’s second administration. Ukraine has repeatedly requested additional Patriot missiles to strengthen its air defenses against increasingly frequent Russian missile attacks. The system is considered particularly effective against high-speed ballistic missiles.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv had waited about a month for Washington to approve a major missile shipment. During that period, Russian forces intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, he said.
Zelenskyy welcomed the US State Department’s decision but said the possibility that the missiles would arrive only after several years was a concern. He urged the United States to find a way to provide PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine during its period of urgent need.
More than 30 Russian strikes hit key parts of Ukraine’s power grid during the final two weeks of October, the Ukrainian president said. He said the targets included electricity, heating and water supplies, bridges, and systems that sustain daily life in cities.
Zelenskyy said Kyiv had asked US partners to provide 100 Patriot missiles a month as part of winter support. In his view, 500 missiles could help protect Ukrainian airspace in the coming months. He said the United States, European partners and other countries have PAC-3 missiles in their stockpiles, and that they could be provided to Ukraine in the winter of 2026-2027. The partners’ inventories could then be replenished in subsequent years through production financed by Ukraine and its partners.
Zelenskyy thanked US President Donald Trump, the State Department and the administration for the authorization. He also said he had discussed PAC-3 missiles with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing that Ukraine needs decisions that can protect lives when danger is present.
At least 14 people were killed on Thursday when a Russian drone struck a crowded railway platform in Dnipro. Ukrainian officials said five more people died in attacks on two regional cities, while a missile strike on Kyiv overnight killed one person.
Delays in US weapons deliveries have also strained relations between Washington and Kyiv. Disagreements have grown after Trump announced a diesel fuel deal with Russia and criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries.
European countries to help finance deal
Ukraine will finance the purchase with national funds backed by contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway, as well as the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan, the State Department said. Funding will be provided through the US JUMPSTART program.
The JUMPSTART initiative allows allied countries to finance US weapons, military services and training while Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
In August, the program was used to fund the purchase of 3,350 air-launched cruise missiles produced by Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire, with a combined value of $825 million. Lockheed Martin will be the prime contractor for the new Patriot missile deal.
US plans to increase missile production
The approval comes as Washington faces pressure to replenish its weapons stockpiles. The United States has provided significant military assistance to its allies and has also used precision-guided munitions and air defense systems in its operations in Iran. These demands have raised concerns about the availability of key weapons and manufacturers’ ability to meet growing orders.
In July, the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to increase Patriot missile production. The company said the agreement would support plans to triple PAC-3 MSE production capacity by the end of 2030.
The company also plans to increase staffing at its facility in Camden, Arkansas, by 50%, from about 1,200 to 1,850 employees. Lockheed Martin had previously announced plans to raise annual Patriot PAC-3 missile production to 2,000.
Negotiators at the Pentagon are urging defense companies to accelerate production. Preliminary agreements reached earlier this year are part of broader efforts to increase missile output.
Despite plans to boost production, the newly approved missiles are not expected to help Ukraine in the near term. The country continues to face Russian air attacks as it awaits additional air defense systems.
