Washington has cleared a possible $2.1-billion foreign military sale of PAC-3 MSE interceptors to Ukraine, with Kyiv seeking 500 missiles to restore supplies for its Patriot air defence network. Ukraine is reported to have eight Patriot systems provided by the US and partner countries, while growing Russian ballistic missile attacks have increased demand for interceptors. The proposed acquisition is expected to be financed by Canada, Germany and Norway through the JUMPSTART program, together with Ukrainian funding backed by the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan. No US government funds are expected to be used. The PAC-3 MSE, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a hit-to-kill missile designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles as part of the Patriot system. Its availability has become increasingly constrained by sustained demand from the conflict in Ukraine and wider military activity in the Middle East. In response to the production pressure, the US Department of Defense has placed a contract worth up to $53.86 billion with Lockheed Martin to expand PAC-3 MSE manufacturing through 2033. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the approval but highlighted the delay that could result from the production and delivery process, which he warned might take several years. He called on the United States and its allies to release interceptors from their current stockpiles to meet Ukraine’s urgent requirements. Under his proposal, participating countries would transfer available missiles immediately and rebuild their inventories over time using output from the expanded production programme.
