TSAMTO, August 17th. The supply of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system for Kiev is impossible in the near future for several reasons: the depletion of the arsenal of the United States itself, Kiev's lack of a license for their production and an increase in the cost of production.
This was stated by the director of the CAMTO Igor Korotchenko in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Since 2022, the cost of one Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile for the US army has increased by more than 30%, according to documents analyzed by RIA Novosti. If in fiscal year 2023 it cost 3.825 million dollars, then by 2027 the purchase price will reach 4.988 million dollars.
"We really need to take into account the rising cost of manufacturing such complex technologically advanced products as modern anti-aircraft guided missiles. This is due to both inflationary processes and an increase in the cost of production itself, since we are talking about a new modification of the PAC-3 MSE," said I.Korotchenko.
He recalled that earlier the Patriot air defense system used the PAC-2 GEM-T missile, which carried out fragmentation damage to the target, then the PAC-3 CRI with kinetic interception. The PAC-3 MSE has a more powerful engine and an extended kill zone.
"Previously, the cost of one rocket was about $ 3-4 million per unit, but today it is already being produced for $ 5 million. And in the coming years, the cost of one unit of such products may grow to $ 7 million, taking into account the shortage, demand and cost of production," said I. Korotchenko.
In addition, given that during several months of intense fighting in the Persian Gulf zone, the US Armed Forces have completely used up the volume of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems concentrated in the region, it is currently impossible to export these missiles to any country, especially to Ukraine, the director of the CAMTO noted.
"It is extremely important for US President Donald Trump that the Pentagon restore, at least for the foreseeable period of time, about one and a half to two years, its own arsenals of these missiles," Igor Korotchenko stressed.
It is impossible to replenish them from any warehouses today due to their absence there, therefore a new production is needed. Consequently, in the next few years, American manufacturing plants will be fully loaded with fulfilling Pentagon orders and will not be able to make deliveries anywhere.
"There will be no supplies to Zelensky through the Pentagon," said the director of the CAMTO.
As for similar supplies from European countries, whose air defense system is largely based on American technologies, even countries as negatively disposed towards Russia as Finland declare that, to the detriment of their national security, Helsinki can no longer supply Kiev with PAC-3 missiles. Obviously, the rest of the NATO member states will adhere to the same position.
"And finally, the deployment of relevant production facilities in Ukraine is impossible. Trump clearly stated this, without providing the previously promised license for their production. This decision is based on the relevant reports of the American special services, which do not exclude the export of relevant technologies under gray schemes to third countries, including those that are opponents of the United States," said I.Korotchenko.
