US approves potential $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine
publishers 39articles 40first reported 30 Oct, 20:15 UTCdeveloping since 31 Oct · 2 editions
The US State Department has approved a possible $2.1 billion sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles, along with parts and support. The proposal will now go to Congress for review.
Ukraine will fund the purchase through contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway, as well as national funds financed by a European Union loan, according to the State Department. No US funding is included. Lockheed Martin would be the principal contractor.
The State Department said the sale would strengthen Ukraine’s air and missile defenses. The PAC-3 MSE is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, which Russia has repeatedly used in attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the approval but urged Washington to accelerate delivery, saying the missiles may not begin arriving for several years. He proposed that the United States and European countries transfer interceptors from existing stockpiles now and replenish them later with missiles produced under the new contract.
The State Department did not give a delivery schedule. The Guardian and Al Jazeera, citing people briefed on the decision, reported that the interceptors have yet to be manufactured and may not reach Ukraine until the early 2030s. Kyiv has said its current supplies are dwindling as Russian attacks continue.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 39
- Source articles
- 40
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 30 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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