Russia's monthly production of ballistic missiles for its Iskander and Kinzhal systems is now running ahead of Lockheed Martin's monthly production of PAC-3 MSE interceptors for the Patriot air-defense system. Ukraine relies on American PAC-3 MSE to stop those exact missiles, Defense Express chief editor Oleh Katkov said on Suspilne TV.
Lockheed Martin delivered 620 PAC-3 MSE interceptors across all of 2025, which is about 56 per month. And in practice, the gap is wider than the production ratio suggests, because a single Iskander interception typically requires two to three PAC-3 missiles fired in salvo.
"Russia has no problem with ballistics"
"Russia has no problem with ballistics, because they produce more ballistic missiles for the Iskander operational-tactical complex than the US produces missiles for the Patriot in the same period," Katkov said.
He added that Russian forces fire ballistic missiles straight off the production conveyor.
His comments came after Russia launched a coordinated overnight aerial attack on Ukraine with 729 missiles and drones, and Kyiv was the primary target.
Five people were killed, and 64 were wounded in the capital, including three children aged 3, 11, and 17, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Thirty-eight wounded were hospitalized. Emergency crews are searching for residents believed trapped under the rubble of a 9-story residential building in the Podilskyi district that partially collapsed in a "double tap" strike.
In Dnipro, 16 people were killed, and 42 were injured, with children among the casualties, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said. Another three people were injured in the nearby city of Kamianske.
Ballistic missiles made up a substantial portion of the missile barrage Russia launched against Ukraine.
Ukraine on "starvation ration"
Ukraine consumes approximately 60 Patriot interceptors per month, and its Air Force describes the supply position as a "starvation ration."
The Iran war has drawn further from US Patriot stocks, with Trump administration officials reportedly warning allies that US weapons supplies to Ukraine could be interrupted in the coming months.
