The United States is unable to provide Ukraine with enough missiles for the MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems, which are used to combat ballistic missiles of the army of the aggressor country Russia.
This is reported by The Economist.
The American company Lockheed Martin is engaged in the production of Patriot systems and missiles for them. The day before, it decided to increase the production of missiles to 650 per year.
According to the publication, this is about 100 less than the projected volume of ballistic missile production in russia.
At the same time, an unnamed Ukrainian official told the publication that Kyiv estimates moscow's current stockpile at 500 ballistic missiles.
Patriot systems are extremely important for Ukraine, since in most cases they are used to intercept ballistic missiles. Usually, two anti-aircraft missiles are needed to destroy one russian missile.
"The problem is that Ukraine has ceased to be a priority for the Biden administration and has become just one of many potential customers fighting for limited production for Donald Trump," the publication writes.
For representatives of the current US president's administration, who are opposed to China, the transfer of even one Patriot system or one missile to it to Ukraine is unacceptable.
Earlier, Ukraine requested a license to produce missiles for Patriot air defense systems. However, Kyiv admits that Washington is unlikely to agree to this.
The production of missiles for Patriot systems is to begin in Germany, but the relevant enterprise will only be operational at the end of 2026.
There are other joint production projects. But in all cases, there is at least a year left before a breakthrough.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on April 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs 10 more Patriot air defense systems.
Later, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is not just asking for Patriot air defense systems, but is ready to buy them from the United States.
We will remind, at the end of March this year it became known that Western partners would provide Ukraine with licenses for the production of air defense systems.
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