Iran has launched about 500 ballistic missiles and several thousand drones at targets across the Middle East, according to publicly available data cited in the press. Considering that intercepting a single ballistic missile requires two PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot system—each costing more than $10 million—the total price tag is staggering: roughly $10 billion spent just to repel ballistic missile attacks.
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The challenge is that the primary—and only—manufacturer of PAC-3 missiles, Lockheed Martin, produced just 620 of them in 2025. Replenishing existing stocks alone would take more than a year.
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Britain has already proposed a possible solution: turning to Ukraine for help.
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To understand the scale of the challenge Ukraine faces, one number is enough: 19,000. That is how many Shahed and other drones Russia launched against Ukraine in the winter of 2025–2026 alone. The number continues to grow: more than 15,000 drones were launched during the summer of 2025. Ukrainian cities remain under constant attack, while the country’s territory is vast.
Ukraine operates a multi-layered defense system that includes anti-aircraft missiles, anti-aircraft guns, mobile fire groups, and interceptor drones. As a result, expensive PAC-3 missiles do not need to be used to intercept Russian-Iranian Shahed drones.
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Take away critical defense Ukraine needs against Russia or order to help Israel/US bomb more children? Insane
That was my first thought, too. But as the article also says,
If all sides are willing, they will find a way I hope.
I'm not surprised Zelensky said so, he has no choice but the play ball with American Empire. Instead of European powers pledging fealty to America and it's imperial ambitions, they should instead be prioritizing helping Ukraine and taking back their sovereignty.
Any and all military assistance to the fascist war goals of Israel and US is completely unacceptable in every respect.
Ukrainian miltech could yield much much much more than it currently do. Its not at it's 100% capacity. Smart people in the country are constantly asking to lift the export ban on weapons so the companies could have outside investments and thus more money for RnD. The government hesitates because it's hard to explain to the population (and to people in the counties that help Ukraine).
But here with USA / Iran, I hope he would be able to trade something big in return. Cause honestly this ignorant idiots were warned of shaheds constantly but they've dismissed it every time (western generals think Ukraine do drones out of poverty and they don't need that), and humiliated Ukraine the whole previous year instead. Guess who have the cards now?