Against the backdrop of a shortage of American interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, Ukraine, along with European allies, is considering creating its own missile defense system. According to The Telegraph, Kyiv is already testing interceptor missiles and hopes to combine its developments with European radars and guidance systems.
The publication reports that Moscow is taking advantage of Ukraine's shortage of missiles for the Patriot air defense systems and is intensifying missile and drone attacks targeted at Ukrainian cities.
This is reported by bb.lv, citing The Telegraph.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to American leader Donald Trump with a request to increase supplies of Pac-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot, which have been lacking since the beginning of the U.S. war against Iran.
It is precisely due to the shortage of interceptor missiles for air defense systems that Zelensky proposed creating a European alternative to the American Patriot missile system.
After talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the President of Ukraine stated that France, Germany, and London would assist with ballistic defense capabilities.
Zelensky then expressed hope that Ukraine and its allies would manage to develop a European alternative to Patriot, which is also needed by the United Kingdom.
He also spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to persuade the Alliance to play a coordinating role in developing the alternative.
Ukrainian sources told The Telegraph that Kyiv's plan is for its own defense industry to produce interceptor missiles for the European system.
They will be combined with radar, tracking, and guidance systems developed by European firms. "Ukraine's role is to produce ballistic interceptor missiles, and we are already conducting tests on them," said a source familiar with the coalition's plans.
It is known that in its coordinating role, NATO has convened meetings with industry leaders, national security advisors from member countries, and other officials on planning issues.
It is still unclear how long it will take to create a full-fledged European alternative to Patriot and whether the new system will achieve the effectiveness of American Pac-3 missiles. However, the project itself indicates Ukraine and its allies' desire to reduce dependence on U.S. supplies and create their own missile defense architecture in Europe.
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