俄罗斯弹道导弹因飞行速度快、下降轨迹陡峭，正越来越多地突破乌克兰的防空防御系统。[1] 乌克兰空军发言人尤里·伊纳特表示，美国提供的爱国者防空系统是乌克兰现有防御中唯一能拦截俄罗斯伊斯坎德尔-M、S-400和锆石导弹的系统。[1] 电子战专家托马斯·威瑟顿指出，这些导弹的下降速度"非常陡峭，速度惊人"，增加了拦截的难度。[1]
乌克兰面临防空弹药短缺的困境。[1] 美国爱国者库存从战前水平下降至少65%，而洛克希德·马丁公司2025年将交付600多枚PAC-3 MSE拦截弹，目标到2030年底实现年产能2000枚。[1] 北约表示欧洲首个爱国者导弹生产设施预计9月在德国启用。[1] 泽连斯基指出乌克兰在2026年上半年获得的防空导弹仅为去年同期的三分之一。[1]
为应对这一挑战，乌克兰正采取多项措施。乌克兰正寻求获取Starlink定位权限打击俄罗斯发射平台，并与9个欧洲国家于7月成立联盟，宣称可在12个月内联合开发大规模生产系统。[1] 此外，特朗普上月在北约峰会上表示将给乌克兰爱国者生产许可证，但三周后又称尚未做最终决定。[1]
Russian ballistic missiles are penetrating Ukrainian air defenses with increasing frequency due to their high velocity and steep descent trajectories, making them exceptionally difficult to intercept.[1] According to Ukraine's air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, the U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense system is the only weapon currently available to Ukraine capable of intercepting Russian Iskander-M, S-400, and Zircon missiles.[1] Electronic warfare expert Thomas Withington described the missiles' descent as "extremely steep and incredibly fast," adding to the challenge of stopping them.[1]
Ukraine faces a significant shortage of both Patriot batteries and interceptor missiles needed to mount an effective defense. U.S. Patriot stockpiles have declined by at least 65% from pre-conflict levels.[1] President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that air defense missiles available to Ukraine in the first half of 2026 will amount to only one-third of what the country received during the same period the previous year.[1] To address this gap, Lockheed Martin plans to deliver over 600 PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles in 2025, with production capacity targeted to reach 2,000 units annually by the end of 2030.[1] Additionally, NATO announced that Europe's first Patriot missile production facility is expected to become operational in Germany in September.[1]
Ukraine is pursuing additional defensive measures and international cooperation. In July, Ukraine joined a coalition with nine European nations to jointly develop the Freya defense system, with partners claiming capability to scale up production within twelve months.[1] Former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated last month at a NATO summit that he would provide Ukraine with Patriot production licenses, though he later stated that no final decision had been made.[1]