Between ambition and reality: what’s blocking Ukraine from getting 10 Patriot systems

Contents 

1. What is the Patriot air defense system?  

2. Who manufactures the Patriot system?  

3. Where are Patriot systems located and how many exist worldwide?  

4. How did Patriot systems arrive in Ukraine and how many are there?  

5. Is it realistic for Ukraine to buy 10 Patriot systems?  

6. Why did Zelenskyy make this proposal?  

7. What alternatives might Ukraine have?

Zelenskyy’s proposal to acquire 10 Patriot systems came in the wake of a tragic strike on Sumy, which became the deadliest Russian attack of 2025, claiming dozens of lives and highlighting the critical vulnerability of Ukraine’s air defense.

This statement serves as another reminder to Western partners that Ukraine remains underprotected from Russian missiles and drones. However, implementing such a deal—acquiring some of the most expensive and technologically advanced air defense systems—faces multiple challenges: limited U.S. production capacity, high cost, political barriers within the Trump administration, and competition from other allies also seeking these systems.

This raises the question: is this proposal a realistic plan supported by financial and diplomatic agreements, or more of a political message aimed at reassuring the public and mobilizing international support amid an ongoing war, despite efforts to initiate peace talks?

What is the Patriot air defense system?

The Patriot SAM (MIM-104 Patriot) is an American surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as enemy aircraft and drones. The system includes six components: a power plant, radar, control station, launchers, antenna group, and interceptor missiles.

The Patriot can engage targets at a range of 100–160 km (depending on the missile type) and at altitudes of up to 24 km, making it an effective tool for protecting large cities and critical infrastructure.

The system was developed back in the 1970s and was first deployed by the U.S. Army in 1982. It saw its combat debut during the 1991 Gulf War, where it successfully intercepted Iraqi ballistic missiles. Since then, the system has been repeatedly upgraded, particularly to the PAC-3 configuration, which offers greater accuracy and the ability to destroy modern hypersonic targets.

Who manufactures the Patriot systems?

The Patriot SAM is manufactured by the American company Raytheon Technologies (now RTX Corporation), one of the world's largest producers of guided missiles and defense systems. The company can produce about 12–16 launch systems per year, which is only two batteries (i.e., two fully operational systems).

Some components, such as missiles, may be produced by other companies, including Lockheed Martin. They can produce around 500 missiles annually.

Producing a Patriot system is a complex and high-tech process, so even countries that operate them usually do not have a full production cycle and depend on U.S. supplies. Overall, it takes one to two years to produce a single Patriot battery, plus several months to train personnel.

Where are Patriot systems located and how many are there globally?

Patriot SAMs are in service with the U.S. military and several allies. According to open sources, systems are distributed as follows:

• USA: Owns the largest number of systems, although the exact figure is classified. According to Breaking Defense, in 2023 the U.S. had around 60 batteries (each battery includes several launchers—typically 4 to 8, with 4 missiles each). There were plans to increase this by another 20. Clearly, this number is insufficient to cover the entire U.S. and its overseas bases. There are, however, reserves of these systems in storage in case of war.
• Europe: Germany (10–12 batteries), Greece (6), Netherlands (4), Poland (2), Romania (4), Sweden (4), Spain (5).
• Middle East and Asia: UAE (12), Qatar (11), Turkey (5), Israel (recently returned 3 batteries to the U.S. and replaced them with its own system), Saudi Arabia (8), Kuwait (5), South Korea (8), Taiwan (4), Japan (6).

All these systems undergo regular maintenance and upgrades, making their operation a continuous process that requires collaboration with the manufacturer. As mentioned earlier, the production of new systems and missiles is limited due to its complexity and time requirements. Moreover, many countries have placed orders and are waiting for new deliveries (USA, Romania, Poland, Switzerland, Morocco).

How did Patriot systems arrive in Ukraine and how many are there?

Ukraine first received Patriot SAMs in the spring of 2023 as part of military aid from Western partners to defend against Russian missile attacks. The systems were provided by:

• USA– provided at least two Patriot batteries  
• Germany – delivered three batteries  
• Netherlands – jointly with other countries, contributed components

As of now, according to Defence Express, Ukraine likely has six Patriot batteries, although the exact number is undisclosed for security reasons. As previously noted, each battery includes 4–8 launchers, a radar, and a command center. These systems are actively used to defend major cities, primarily the capital, from Russian ballistic and cruise missiles.

However, a major issue remains the shortage of Patriot missiles. They are expensive (each missile costs $2–4 million) and produced in limited quantities for about 20 countries. This was highlighted by President Zelensky two months ago, stating that a Patriot system may be stationed near a city but without missiles.

Under President Biden, the missiles were supplied in relatively large batches and used regularly. Under President Trump, however, Ukrainians are forced to conserve them.

Additionally, constant Russian attacks force Ukraine to frequently relocate these systems, complicating their effective use.

Is it realistic for Ukraine to purchase 10 Patriot systems?

In April 2025, President Zelenskyy told CBS News that Ukraine is ready to purchase 10 Patriot systems for $15 billion to defend key cities such as Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and others. He emphasized that some European partners are willing to help finance the deal. Zelenskyy also proposed alternatives: obtaining production licenses to manufacture Patriots and missiles in Ukraine or leasing systems from countries where they are not actively used (such as some in the Middle East or Asia).

According to him, 10 systems could provide basic protection for critical infrastructure and civilians from Russian attacks. Zelenskyy stressed that the issue is not money but political will and availability of systems in the U.S.

However, there are several serious challenges to this proposal:

Limited production: Raytheon’s facilities cannot quickly produce 10 new batteries. Even for the U.S. and its allies, delivery timelines stretch into years. Not to mention the constant missile shortages. Even if the U.S. produced Patriots exclusively for Ukraine, it would take 4–5 years to receive 10 additional systems. According to military expert and "Reactive Mail" NGO founder Pavlo Narozhny, one realistic option could be for the U.S. to sell ready-made systems from their inventory and later replace them with new ones, as they’ve done before.

Political factors: The U.S. strictly controls Patriot exports due to their strategic value. When asked about Zelenskyy’s proposal, President Donald Trump gave a vague answer, hinting that Ukraine bears responsibility for the war, saying “Zelenskyy always wants missiles.” German outlet Bild reported that Trump rejected the idea, adding that he’s so focused on negotiations with Putin that he “doesn’t even want to profit from defending Ukraine.” The Economist noted that Trump still intends to secure a peace deal by the end of the month, though this seems unrealistic.

Competition for systems: The U.S. continues to supply Patriot systems to other allies, which reduces availability for Ukraine. Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed frustration that systems are being sent to other countries while Ukraine remains in critical need despite ongoing Russian aggression.

Licensing for production: Granting Ukraine licenses to manufacture Patriots is unlikely due to the complexity of the technology and U.S. concerns about leaking classified information. Even close U.S. allies lack full production cycles.

High cost: As mentioned earlier, each battery costs around $1.5 billion (including missiles and related equipment). While Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to find the money (since it has none of its own), this would require time and new agreements with European partners, who would likely cover the cost.

Why did Zelenskyy make this proposal?

Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, especially energy and civilian infrastructure, cause massive damage and take many lives. The Patriot system is one of the few capable of effectively countering ballistic missiles like the Iskander and Kinzhal.

Seeking new ways to cooperate with the unpredictable Trump, Zelenskyy wants to show Ukraine is willing to pay for its own security to avoid constant accusations of dependence on free aid. That’s why on April 9, he said Ukraine is ready to purchase up to $30–50 billion worth of American weapons.

This is also a signal to allies that Ukraine is looking for long-term solutions, not just temporary support. In light of Trump’s statements about ending the war, Zelenskyy is trying to demonstrate Ukraine’s readiness to take action and pay for protection, not just request help.

"This shows Ukraine’s maturing. We’re gradually moving from relying on help to trying to solve our problems independently. Funding for such purchases is another matter. In the long term, these could be covered by Ukrainian economic revenues, but for now it’s highly likely that European countries are willing to pay similar or even larger sums for their own security,”  said military expert Valerii Riabykh, development director at Defense Express, on Espreso TV."

Another key aspect of Zelenskyy’s Patriot announcement is the domestic political factor. His proposal came right after the deadly April 13 missile strike on Sumy, which was Russia’s deadliest attack this year, killing dozens and sparking nationwide outrage.

This tragedy underscored Ukraine’s urgent shortage of effective air defense for major frontline cities in the fourth year of the war. Zelenskyy’s statement about purchasing 10 Patriot systems was intended not only to influence international allies but also to show the Ukrainian public that the government is actively seeking ways to protect them from Russian attacks. This is especially important as public fatigue, economic hardships, and inflation pressure continue to rise. It also highlights that the main obstacle now is the position of the U.S.

What alternatives does Ukraine have?

Zelenskyy’s proposal to buy 10 Patriots for $15 billion faces many hurdles. Therefore, Ukraine is looking for alternatives, relying on other Western air defense systems and its own strategic SAM development, which could be a game-changer.

Among Western alternatives are:

- SAMP/T (France-Italy) – capable of intercepting ballistic missiles up to 35 km away  

- NASAMS (Norway-USA) – up to 50 km, effective against cruise missiles  

- IRIS-T SLM (Germany) – up to 40 km, ideal for drones and aircraft  

- David’s Sling (Israel) – can rival Patriot in range, but is even harder to acquire

These systems, already partially used by Ukraine, complement its air defense. However, only SAMP/T and David’s Sling come close to Patriot's capabilities against ballistic threats like the Kinzhal. Still, availability is limited, and missiles for these systems are also in short supply.