The deal includes the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3 MSE) missile upgrade, part of the US Department of Defense's agreement with the defense giant to more than triple annual production of air defense charges.
PAC-3 MSE are medium- and long-range interceptor missiles that form the basis of the air defense of the United States and its allies, the agency notes.
Stocks of PAC-3 MSE, some of which Ukraine received to protect against attacks from the aggressor country Russia, are being rapidly depleted due to the war in the Middle East. Increased production is unlikely to eliminate the deficit this year, Reuters notes.
Context
March 26 The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is considering the possibility of redirecting weapons intended for sale under the Ukraine PU program to replenish US stockpiles.
US Secretary of State Mark Rubio said on March 27 before his departure from France that PURL remained unchanged due to operations in the Middle East. However, he did not rule out such a possibility in the future.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sibiga, in an interview with Ukrinform, published on March 29, said that Ukraine received assurance from the United States that weapons intended for Ukraine under PURL will not be redirected to other destinations.
On April 4, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that air defense missiles are Ukraine's most important problem in defense against the Russian Federation. If the war in Iran does not end soon, Zelensky believes, “the package – which is not very big for us anyway – I think will become smaller and smaller every day,” he believes.
