Ukraine has ordered Patriot missiles for years ahead, but asks for urgent deliveries

Ukraine is concluding contracts with partners for the supply of about a thousand interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, including with funds from a European Union loan. However, most of these missiles will only arrive in the coming years, so Kyiv has asked allies to transfer 300 interceptors from existing stockpiles now.

This was stated by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yevhen Khmara during the 36th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format on September 8.

According to the minister, contracts for about a thousand missiles for Patriot are funded with partner support and through an EU loan. However, production and delivery schedules mean that a significant portion of these munitions cannot reach Ukraine in the near future.

Therefore, Kyiv has proposed a temporary scheme to partners: transfer missiles from their own arsenals to Ukraine now, and later receive new, improved interceptors produced under Ukrainian contracts in return.

"Most of these missiles will be delivered only in the coming years, so we ask you to provide us with missiles from your stockpiles today in exchange for future improved missiles under our contracts," — said Khmara.

The minister specified that Ukraine's urgent need amounts to 300 interceptor missiles for Patriot. In addition, Kyiv has requested about 500 air-to-air missiles capable of destroying cruise missiles, as well as man-portable air-defense systems to counter Russian attack drones.

Separately, Khmara urged partners to speed up financial decisions on drone procurement. According to him, Ukraine needs about $2 billion to ensure stable drone supplies this year and at the beginning of next year.

The statement came on the day when European Union countries agreed on the possibility of directing 3.2 billion euros from the Ukraine Support Loan to purchase American interceptor missiles for Patriot. Technical formalization of this decision should be completed by the end of the week.

On the same day, Germany announced that it will transfer additional PAC-2 missiles for Patriot directly from Bundeswehr stockpiles to Ukraine. Thus, Kyiv is trying to simultaneously solve two tasks: obtain necessary interceptors from existing partner arsenals to defend the country in the coming months and ensure long-term supplies through new contracts.

Based on materials from: meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group