US clears $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine
What's next: The interceptors still have to be built, and delivery is not expected until the early 2030s.
The United States approved a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles to Ukraine, a major step toward bolstering Kyiv's air defenses as Russia intensifies strikes on cities and energy infrastructure. The State Department cleared the deal on Oct. 30, with Lockheed Martin as the principal contractor. Ukraine plans to fund the purchase with contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway routed through the JUMPSTART program, along with national funds backed by the European Union's Ukraine Support Loan. But the missiles have not yet been manufactured, and people briefed on the decision said deliveries are not expected until a couple of years into the 2030s.