Key Points
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said developing a domestic air defense system is now a top priority and tasked Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov with leading the effort.
- Ukraine is pursuing multiple options including licensing Western systems such as Patriot or developing its own air defense and missile technologies with support from the domestic defense industry.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 14 that developing a domestic air defense system has become a top priority for Ukraine’s defense leadership, tasking Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov with leading efforts to strengthen the country’s ability to protect its airspace.
Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy said Ukraine must pursue several parallel options to improve air defense, including possible licensing agreements for Western systems or the development of an entirely domestic solution.
“The issue is air defense. Either the United States will give us a license for Patriot, or we will obtain a license from one of our European partners, or Ukraine will have its own air defense system that will appear earlier. We should not abandon any of these approaches. But which will come first—we will see,” Zelenskyy said.
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Air defense remains one of Kyiv’s most urgent military requirements. Russian forces have repeatedly used cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and long-range drones in strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities, logistics infrastructure, and urban areas.
Zelenskyy said the effort to strengthen air defense will involve coordination between the defense ministry, the military command responsible for air defense operations, and Ukraine’s private technology sector.
“Mykhailo, together with the commander of the air defense forces and the entire private sector, must focus on this issue,” the president said.
Zelenskyy noted that Fedorov had already conducted meetings with Ukrainian defense companies and technology firms involved in air defense and missile development.
“Mykhailo traveled across the entire private sector and spoke with them. He prepared a report for me. We will take steps regarding air defense and missile construction—you will see them. This is a transformation forward, because we simply have no other path,” Zelenskyy said.
The president also stressed that building an effective national air defense system is essential not only during wartime but also for long-term security.
“The war will end—everyone will give us security guarantees. A plane will depart from an airport, and people still need to be confident that if some accidental missile arrives, they will be protected. The question is global protection. This is question number one,” he said.
Ukraine currently relies heavily on Western-supplied air defense systems to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
These systems include the Patriot air defense system provided by the United States and European partners, as well as systems such as NASAMS air defense system developed by Norway and the United States.
Such systems are designed to detect and intercept aircraft, cruise missiles, and, in some cases, ballistic missiles. However, Ukraine has repeatedly said that the number of available systems remains insufficient to protect all critical infrastructure and major cities.
Developing domestic air defense capabilities could allow Ukraine to produce interceptor missiles, radar systems, and command networks within its own defense industry.
Officials have indicated that multiple projects are already under development within Ukraine’s defense sector.
Some initiatives reportedly focus on reverse engineering legacy Soviet systems, including platforms related to the S-300 and Buk air defense families that remain in Ukrainian service. Other projects involve the creation of new multi-missile air defense systems inspired by Western concepts similar to NASAMS. Ukrainian engineers are also studying the possibility of developing ballistic missile defense capabilities, which would allow the country to detect and intercept incoming ballistic missiles.
The status and timelines of these programs remain unclear, and Ukrainian officials have not provided detailed information about specific technologies under development.
