Key facts
- Ukraine faces a critical shortage of U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles.
- Patriot missiles are the only proven system against Russian ballistic threats.
- Russia is escalating its missile and drone assaults on Ukraine.
- Efforts are underway to secure older interceptors for Ukraine.
- Ukraine is developing domestic anti-ballistic missile capabilities.
- Germany has a long-range weapons gap.
- Germany's IRIS-T air defense system serves a different purpose than the Patriot.
- A Ukrainian-developed cruise missile named Flamingo is being explored for production in Germany.
Ukraine is currently facing a critical shortage of U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles. These missiles are identified as the only proven system capable of defending against Russian ballistic threats. The escalating missile and drone assaults from Russia have intensified the need for these air defense capabilities. In response, efforts are underway to secure older interceptor missiles and to develop domestic anti-ballistic missile capabilities within Ukraine.