US Approves $2.1 Billion Sale of 500 PAC‑3 Patriot Missiles to Ukraine

The U.S. State Department has cleared the export of 500 PAC‑3 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, a move aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s air defense against Russian ballistic attacks. The missiles, valued at $2.1 billion (£1.6 billion), will be funded entirely by allies in Europe and Canada through the JUMPSTART program and the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan, with Lockheed Martin acting as the principal contractor. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the U.S. to expedite delivery, citing a critical shortage of Patriots amid intensified Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. Production of new PAC‑3 missiles is limited to about 600 units per year, and the order is for new builds rather than existing stock, implying that rapid delivery is unlikely.