Ukraine can buy 500 Patriot missiles, but they may arrive only in years. One estimate says they’d last about three months
Kyiv asked for 100 Patriot interceptors a month and wants partners to send missiles from stock now, refilled later from the order.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration over the delay in receiving 500 Patriot missiles, which were approved for sale by the US on October 30. He emphasized that the delivery of these interceptors, which could cost around $2.1 billion, may only begin a few years later, starting only in a few years. The 500 missiles, if built and used sparingly, would only provide just over three months of defense against ballistic attacks, according to estimates from Ukrainian military outlet Defense Express.
Meanwhile, Russia has launched over 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast since October 14. In the meantime, the US is delaying the delivery of PAC-3 missiles, while older PAC-2s continue to arrive. Washington approved the sale of 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles with spare parts worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but no delivery date has been set.
Ukraine would pay for the missiles through contributions from Canada, Germany, Norway, and an EU loan. Zelenskyy requested the winter package of 100 interceptors per month, an idea he first proposed to European allies in July. He suggested that partners send interceptors from their existing stocks in winter 2026-2027, allowing them to replenish their arsenals from production later on.
However, deliveries of the new missiles are not expected until after 2030, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's senior Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
