Ukraine awaits 500 Patriot missiles as Russia targets power infrastructure
The US State Department approved a $2.1 billion sale of interceptors, but delivery may not occur until the 2030s.
The US State Department has approved a possible sale of 500 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors to Ukraine, according to the Times of India. The deal is valued at approximately $2.1 billion and involves Lockheed Martin as the primary contractor.
The procurement will be funded by Canada, Germany, and Norway via the US JUMPSTART programme, in addition to money from the European Union's Ukraine Support Loan. The US is not providing the funding for this purchase.
While the approval is a significant step, the missiles are not immediately available. Reuters, citing two sources, reported that the new interceptors might not arrive until the 2030s. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that they could take several years to reach the country.
The delay comes as Russia targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure. In September, Defense Express reported Zelenskyy's estimate that Ukraine requires between 100 and 120 ballistic-missile interceptors every month during the upcoming winter.
Manufacturing constraints contribute to the timeline. The New Voice of Ukraine reported that the production of a single missile can take up to 24 months. Additionally, Lockheed Martin must supply the US military and other international allies.
Lockheed Martin delivered 620 PAC-3 MSE interceptors in 2025. In January 2026, the company announced a seven-year agreement with the US government to increase annual production from about 600 to 2,000 missiles.