Why Ukraine Must Develop Its Own Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, Says 'Achilles' Commander.

The Critical Need for Anti-Ballistic Capabilities in Ukraine

According to UATV: Ukraine urgently requires its own anti-ballistic missile systems, according to Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the 429th Separate Brigade of Unmanned Systems 'Achilles.' Speaking on the FREEДOM TV channel, he highlighted that while the country's air defense effectively intercepts drones and cruise missiles, it remains dangerously vulnerable to ballistic missile threats. This gap in capability comes as Russia continues to launch devastating long-range strikes, including a massive attack on July 2, 2023.

Current data shows that Ukraine's air defense can shoot down up to 90% of propeller-driven drones and up to 90% of cruise missiles fired by the enemy. However, neutralizing a single ballistic missile requires at least two anti-ballistic interceptors. This ratio underscores a severe shortage of tools to counter ballistic threats, especially given the intensity of recent Russian bombardments.

Production Bottlenecks and a Growing 'Zoo' of Threats

Fedorenko also pointed out that Ukraine does not manufacture Patriot systems domestically, and following the military conflict between the United States and Iran, a shortage of missiles for these systems has emerged. He emphasized:

“The defense forces and Ukrainian manufacturers have proposed several solutions that will be put into use,” said Yuriy Fedorenko.

Furthermore, he criticized the global pace of missile production: “The production of these missiles worldwide is moving at a snail's pace—extremely slow. That's why the Ukrainian state is telling our partners: 'Friends, we are a high-tech nation, we are ready to assemble these missiles ourselves. Give us the technological capability and the permission to do so.'”

Fedorenko also addressed the wide variety of ballistic missiles now used by the enemy, noting: “Why is there such a 'zoo' of ballistic missiles on the enemy's side now? Because Ukraine, first of all, blocked the serial production [of these missiles].” Among the types of missiles deployed by the adversary, he listed:

• 4 3M22 'Zircon' anti-ship missiles
• 24 'Iskander-M'/S-400 ballistic missiles
• 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles
• 8 'Kalibr' cruise missiles
• 4 Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missiles
• 496 strike UAVs of the 'Shahed,' 'Gerbera,' and 'Italmas' types

These factors highlight Ukraine's urgent need to develop its own anti-ballistic systems to ensure national security and defense capability. Facing relentless aggression, the ability to effectively counter ballistic missiles is critical for protecting the country's territory and population. Advancing domestic technologies in this field could also strengthen Ukraine's defense industry and reduce its reliance on imported weapon systems.