In brief
Aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi says Europe should develop its own missile defence production while seeking Patriot interceptors for Ukraine. Expanding production would take time.
Europe should invest in its own programmes to intercept ballistic missiles alongside efforts to find Patriot ammunition for Ukraine, aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi told RBC-Ukraine. Khrapchynskyi, the development director of a defence company, singled out the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium and SAMP/T NG systems using Aster 30 Block 1 NT missiles.
For this winter, he advocated transfers from existing European stocks, followed by replenishment. He said PAC-2 GEM-T missiles were less effective against ballistic targets than PAC-3 MSE interceptors, but could counter cruise missiles and aircraft, preserving scarce MSE rounds for ballistic threats.
His longer-term proposal includes expanding European production and cooperating with Ukraine’s defence industry. Adding MBDA production lines and shortening the Aster 30 manufacturing cycle would require time and engineering work, the report said. These are expert proposals, rather than announcements of approved investments or completed deliveries.
Aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap also told RBC-Ukraine that missile production should increase four- to fivefold. He cautioned that public information did not allow a reliable breakdown of European stocks by missile variant or an exact assessment of how many remained.
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