Ukraine expended about 700 interceptor missiles for its Patriot systems over the past winter, EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said, as reported by Euronews, stressing that the figures underscore an urgent need to ramp up missile production in Europe.
The official said Ukrainian air defenses regularly repel massive Russian attacks, keeping Patriot ammunition consumption extremely high. Production, however, remains well below real needs. For example, in 2025 Lockheed Martin produced about 600 PAC-3 missiles—fewer than Ukraine used in just one winter.
Kubilius noted that global demand for air defense is surging. Systems and interceptors are being used not only in Russia’s war against Ukraine but also in other conflicts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously highlighted the scale of such weapons use in the Middle East. He said more than 800 U.S.-made interceptors were fired in just three days to counter Iranian attacks and drones—stockpiles Ukraine has never had.
European officials acknowledge the current situation requires an urgent boost to the defense industry. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the EU must develop its own production capacity and resilient arms supply chains.
According to Kubilius, the European Union is already considering several financial tools to increase defense output. They include a roughly €90 billion credit-support program for Ukraine and an EU-wide defense lending scheme of up to €150 billion.
