Ukraine is developing its own air defense system to compete with the US-made Patriot, as stated by the commander in chief of its armed forces.

This initiative was prompted by the emergence of Russia’s new missile, known as “Oreshnik,” according to General Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with TSN, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.

He emphasized that “this motivates us to establish our own air defense system, which will not only serve as an air defense mechanism but also function as an anti-missile system.”

Syrskyi further noted that “efforts are currently in progress, and we are actively advancing in this area.”

In November, Russia launched its first Oreshnik missile at an industrial facility in Dnipro, located in central Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the weapon as a “non-nuclear hypersonic warhead” capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10, or ten times the speed of sound.

Syrskyi mentioned that only a limited number of defense systems are capable of intercepting the Oreshnik, and that Kyiv presently lacks this capability. However, he pointed out that “during the Soviet era, we were responsible for producing all the control systems for anti-aircraft systems.”

Ukraine has faced significant challenges in addressing Russia’s missile and drone assaults with its current air defense capabilities, leading the nation to consistently request additional Patriot systems and other air defense resources from its allies.

The extensive Russian invasion has catalyzed a surge in defense production within Ukraine, involving both local manufacturers and international collaborations.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the country produced nearly one-third of the military equipment and weapons it utilized in 2024.

Several Western defense firms have also entered into joint production agreements and established operations in Ukraine. Notably, Germany’s Rheinmetall has announced its involvement in developing a new air defense facility in the country.

On Thursday, the United Kingdom revealed its provision of a new air defense system named Gravehawk to Ukraine, which has been co-funded by Denmark.

The Gravehawk system is capable of adapting air-to-air missiles for ground launch, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence, allowing for the allocation of more advanced systems—such as the Patriot and NASAMS—for larger targets.