Fedorov: Ukraine has great potential to independently produce anti-ballistic missiles and systems; separate project needed for this

Ukraine has significant potential to independently produce anti-ballistic missiles and systems, but a separate project is needed for this, stated Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

During a meeting with journalists, Fedorov noted that Ukraine critically lacks PAC-3 air defense missiles to defend itself against Russian ballistic missiles.

"The president and I also discussed creating joint consortiums with partners to more quickly produce anti-ballistic missiles. Ukraine has great potential to independently produce anti-ballistic systems and missiles. We need a separate project for this—the math involved is complex and requires more time," he said.

Fedorov emphasized that Ukraine must develop its own projects.

At the same time, he recalled the success of the February meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defense (the Rammstein format), which resulted in the receipt of a historic budget support from partners. According to Fedorov, "the approach to working with partners has changed."

"We started pitching specific projects. We presented our war plan at Rammstein, then the projects and operations to be carried out. We explained the connections and what our partners stand to gain from this. A good example is that we attracted funding from our European partners for drone assault units, for the basic minimum for providing brigades with drones, for drones for operational depth, and additional PAK-3 air defense missiles," the defense minister stated.