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Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of a Patriot SAM launcher (Photo: Jens Buttner/Pool via REUTERS)
Two years’ worth of Patriot
missile interceptors were fired in the first 25 days of the U.S.–Israeli
operation against Iran, Ukrainian MP and Defense Committee ranking member Serhiy
Rakhmanin told NV Radio on March 30.
“Everybody thought there will be enough PAC-3s for everyone,” said Rakhmanin.
“Let’s look at open sources: RUSI [Royal United Services Institute] determined that at least 1,804 Patriot interceptor missiles were used in the first 25 days, with about 1,300 of those being PAC-3s.”
Rakhmanin noted that Lockheed Martin’s highest annual production of those missiles was 620 in 2025 and that the company aims to reach 750 in 2026.
“Two years’ worth of output was fired in 25 days of a war that is not over,” describing such liberal use of expensive missiles to down cheap drones as “reckless.”
Earlier on March 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said
Ukraine is negotiating with two countries for alternatives to U.S. PAC-3
ballistic missile interceptors. He said there is a severe global shortage of
PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems, with production running at about 60
missiles a month and most of that output currently going to the Middle East.
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