US approves sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine
Briefing by News4U · First published
The United States has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles to Ukraine, a munition Kyiv needs against Russian ballistic missiles, after saying deliveries had been delayed in recent months, the BBC reported. The US State Department said the proposed package would cost $2.1bn (£1.6bn) and be funded entirely by allies in Europe and Canada, with Ukraine paying through donations from Canada, Germany and Norway via the JUMPSTART program and national funds financed by the European Union's Ukraine Support Loan. Lockheed Martin would be the principal contractor and no US funds are involved; the BBC said the order is understood to be for new builds rather than stock missiles, so rapid delivery is unlikely, while US defence figures put annual Patriot production at about 600. [1]
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- US approves sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine
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