Due to the conflict in the Middle East, there is a shortage of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems. Therefore, Ukraine does not have enough of this weaponry to ensure air defense. Russia can ramp up production of ballistic missiles, and the issue of protecting Ukrainian skies must be resolved. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UNN reports.
"PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles are not offensive missiles. We found money in Europe to purchase them from the United States, but we do not have enough of these missiles. This is a problem because sanctions against Russian military production have been insufficient, and they can increase the production of ballistic missiles. That is why we need to ensure air defense as soon as possible," - said Zelenskyy in an interview with Sky News.
According to him, the shortage of this weaponry arose due to the situation in the Middle East. The head of the Ukrainian state added that he is trying to resolve this issue together with partners, including Europeans and Americans.
Zelenskyy recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump approved granting Ukraine licenses to produce missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
"But that does not mean we made a decision and filled our warehouses with hundreds of such interceptors. It does not work that way," - emphasized the President of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv had requested permission from European and American partners to manufacture PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"We in Ukraine can work very quickly. From the first years of this war, I appealed to Americans and Europeans with a request to provide licenses. Not forever, but only for the duration of this war. We will increase production, and we will share. We will not sell to anyone else — only for Ukraine's needs and for our partners if they need it. For example, who knew about the Middle East? This is just an example," - explained the President of Ukraine.
At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's domestic production allows it to shoot down drones and much more, but for now Ukraine cannot intercept ballistic missiles on its own.
However, according to the President of Ukraine, Kyiv is already working on creating a pan-European anti-ballistic shield together with European countries.
"Of course, we are on the path to creating a European anti-ballistic air defense system. But this takes time," - emphasized Zelenskyy.
In particular, on July 13, Ukraine and nine other European countries signed a declaration on the creation of an Anti-Ballistic Coalition and the implementation of the FREYJA project. This involves HENSOLDT, Thales, Diehl Defence, Saab, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Weibel, Leonardo, MBDA, Eurosam, Safran, and Destinus. The Ukrainian company Fire Point is involved in the system's development.
This anti-ballistic system, according to the CEO and CTO of the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, Iryna Terekh, is a complete rethinking of airspace protection.
"FREYJA is not an offensive system. It is clearly a defensive system. We are thinking about protection, this is a completely different narrative that makes it easier to accept," - noted Terekh.
The FREYJA anti-ballistic system will be built on an open architecture; partner countries will be able to use their own technological components. But everything will be built around a Ukrainian development — the FP-7.x interceptor missile from Fire Point. It is significantly cheaper than its counterparts. This interceptor costs, without a seeker, half a million dollars, and with a seeker it will cost 750-800 thousand, compared to several million dollars for the American counterpart.