Ukraine faces critical Patriot missile shortage, Air Force warns
Photo: Patriot (Getty Images)
Ukraine’s Patriot systems are facing a serious shortage of missiles. Despite their effective use, missile stockpiles remain limited, stated Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force.
Ihnat explained how Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently operating Patriot systems, placing particular emphasis on maintenance and keeping them combat-ready under wartime conditions.
He stressed that Ukrainian personnel are among the most experienced operators of these systems.
He also highlighted the missile shortage, noting that the President regularly raises the issue of air defense missiles and ballistic interceptors in his evening addresses.
The focus is primarily on PAC-3 missiles, which are considered the most effective for intercepting enemy ballistic threats within the Patriot system.
PAC-2 missiles can also be used. They were originally designed for such tasks but are now more often used as air defense missiles.
Ihnat clarified that PAC-3 remains the optimal solution for countering ballistic threats. He recalled that over the winter, the enemy launched more than 700 missiles, a significant portion of them ballistic, including Kinzhal, Iskander, KN-23, and S-400 systems.
Over three months, around 15 large-scale strikes were recorded, not including daily attacks by Shahed drones across Ukraine.
According to him, this has led to a depletion of missile stocks not only for Patriot systems but also for other Western air defense systems, including NASAMS and IRIS-T.
He noted that Ukraine is currently using an unprecedented range of air defense systems but is facing a serious shortage of ammunition.
"Patriot systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles are effectively on a 'starvation ration,'" Ihnat said.
He added that the country’s leadership is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure missile supplies, including negotiations at both military and political levels with various countries in Europe and around the world.
Even limited deliveries could make a difference, as even a small number of missiles can strengthen defenses against mass ballistic attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine’s air defenses intercept more than 90% of enemy drones, but protection against ballistic missiles still requires additional strengthening.
Ukraine has also officially begun the operational deployment of the latest Terra A1 interceptor drones, designed to counter Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drones.
