Zelenskyy Seeks More Patriot Interceptors and Home F-16 Repairs in Talks With Lockheed Martin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a team from US defense company Lockheed Martin in Kyiv on October 19 to discuss expanding air defense capabilities against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The talks focused on securing a steady supply of interceptors and establishing domestic maintenance pipelines.

Zelenskyy highlighted the critical role that Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 Patriot interceptors and F-16 fighter jets play in intercepting ballistic missiles and strike drones.

Addressing the current supply bottlenecks, the Ukrainian president noted that Lockheed Martin is scaling up its production of ballistic missile interceptors, with Kyiv aiming to purchase a portion of the newly manufactured inventory.

In addition to missile procurement, the Ukrainian government is pushing to localize the technical support and repair infrastructure for its growing fleet of F-16s directly within the country.

Thanking the company for its presence in Ukraine, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is taking all necessary measures to deepen its long-term industrial partnership with the defense manufacturer.

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

Sweden Allocates Over €5 Million to Restore Ukraine’s Transport Network

Oct 19, 2026 18:58

As a harsh winter looms, Ukraine's air defenses are dangerously depleted as the country prepares for an expected surge in Russian energy strikes.

International supplies of Patriot interceptors are severely constrained, leaving Kyiv scrambling alongside European allies to secure hundreds of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles before the cold sets in.

With Ukrainian air defense intercepting only a fraction of incoming ballistic missiles, experts and officials warn that the upcoming winter threatens to bring severe energy disruptions and critical infrastructure challenges across the country.

Protect Ukrainian Skies

Subscribe to Sky Defense