WASHINGTON, October 31 (ANI) — The United States has approved a potential sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1 billion, with the purchase to be funded entirely by European partners and Canada.
The U.S. State Department formally announced the approval Friday, stating that the proposed sale is intended to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and protect against current and emerging missile threats.
Canada, Germany and Norway are expected to contribute to the acquisition through the U.S. JUMPSTART program, alongside funding from a European Union credit facility. No U.S. government funds will be used for the purchase, according to official statements from the department.
Lockheed Martin will serve as the primary contractor. The proposed package also includes classified and unclassified spare parts, along with comprehensive logistics and program support.
The official announcement did not specify when the interceptors would be delivered or whether any hardware components would be manufactured locally in Ukraine under a proposed arrangement with Lockheed Martin.
The approval comes as Ukraine faces persistent Russian ballistic missile attacks and seeks to strengthen its air defenses ahead of the winter season.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Kyiv had spent nearly a month awaiting formal approval from Washington for critical missile supplies intended for its Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems.
Ukraine’s existing stockpile of Patriot interceptors was reportedly depleted earlier this month, according to a previous CNN report. The PAC-3 MSE is the most advanced version of the Patriot interceptor currently in operational service and is among the few weapons capable of intercepting incoming ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged the United States and its Western allies to accelerate deliveries. Earlier this month, he said Ukraine had received an average of just 12 Patriot interceptors per month from the United States throughout the year, while its military requirements called for intercepting approximately 150 incoming Russian ballistic missiles monthly.
In a video statement posted on social media Friday, Zelenskyy highlighted the severe shortage, reporting that Russia had targeted Ukraine with 17 ballistic missiles overnight, striking oil refining infrastructure in central Ukraine.
During an interview with CNN in August, Zelenskyy argued that even a small portion of the U.S. Patriot missile stockpile would be sufficient to “destroy all the Russians’ ballistic missiles.”
The approval follows weeks of friction between Washington and Kyiv over the Trump administration’s approach to the war and its support for Ukraine.
According to CNN, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month announced an agreement allowing Russian diesel exports to enter global energy markets while waiving additional penalties targeting Russian fossil fuel trade that had recently been enacted into law.
Trump also threatened to suspend intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in response to Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil refineries. Ukraine’s access to the Starshield satellite system was temporarily restricted before being restored last week.
The Patriot sale represents a significant milestone for Zelenskyy, who has repeatedly appealed to Western leaders and the public for additional defensive weapons.
The State Department said it was unaware of any finalized agreement between Ukraine and Lockheed Martin regarding domestic production of interceptor components. However, it noted that Kyiv and the defense manufacturer could negotiate such arrangements independently.
Trump previously announced at the NATO summit in Turkey in July that Ukraine would receive a license to manufacture its own Patriot missiles.
Establishing a local production facility could eventually ease pressure on U.S. manufacturing lines amid ammunition shortages linked to the war in Iran and rising international demand. However, building a Ukrainian assembly plant would take years, and Trump has appeared to retreat from the initial proposal.
The European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan provides for up to 90 billion euros in financial assistance for 2026 and 2027, with 60 billion euros specifically allocated for defense needs.
The European Commission has authorized Kyiv to use the credit facility to purchase U.S.-made Patriot interceptors.
The proposed sale is part of broader efforts by Ukraine and its European allies to secure advanced air defense systems as Russian bombardments continue. (ANI)
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