Ukraine uses about 700 Patriot interceptors in four months, EU commissioner says

Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, has said about 800 US-made interceptor missiles were used in three days in the Middle East, more than the roughly 700 missiles Ukraine used over the winter period.

Source: Euronews; European Pravda

Details: Kubilius said the strain on global weapons supply chains linked to the US operation in the Middle East shows it is "really critical" for Europe to rapidly scale up missile production to meet its own needs and those of Ukraine.

He said Ukraine's battlefield needs, especially for interceptors, far exceed the West's current production capacity.

Kubilius said Ukraine faced almost 2,000 missile strikes in 2025. In particular, Russia fired about 900 ballistic missiles.

These weapons are much harder to intercept and require advanced air defence systems such as the Patriot missile system.

Kubilius said Ukraine's Armed Forces needed about 700 Patriot interceptor missiles in just four months.

However, Lockheed Martin, a US defence company, produced 600 PAC-3 missiles in 2025.

Quote: "Americans will not be able to provide enough of those missiles for the Gulf countries, for their own army, and also for Ukraine."

More details: He called the situation critical and said missile production must be expanded "in a very urgent and very rapid way".

Background:

• Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said weapons and defence capabilities, including air defence systems needed by Kyiv, are now being redirected to the Middle East.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Middle East situation has not yet affected deliveries of US weapons to Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme, particularly missiles for air defence systems.

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