US gives Ukraine front-of-the-line privileges for air defense missiles

The Biden administration is moving Ukraine ahead of other countries that were slated to receive air defense missiles, the latest move in its effort to rush urgently needed weapons to Kyiv.

The U.S. will “reprioritize” deliveries of Patriots and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems missiles planned for a select group of other countries so that the munitions coming off the production line will instead go to Ukraine, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, announced Thursday.

Ukraine will start to see deliveries of the interceptors, made by Lockheed Martin and RTX, this summer, Kirby said.

The decision, which Kirby called “difficult but necessary,” sends a clear message to Russia: “If you think you’re going to be able to outlast Ukraine, and if you think you’re gonna be able to outlast those of us who are supporting Ukraine, you’re just flat-out wrong.”

The move means deliveries of interceptors to other countries will be delayed until after Ukraine’s inventory is restocked, Kirby said. The goal is to give Kyiv enough air defense capabilities for the rest of the fiscal year and next fiscal year — the next 16 months in total, Kirby said.

Those countries will still receive their orders later, effectively doubling the contractors’ order books.

Only certain countries have been asked to defer their interceptor orders, Kirby said, stressing that the move will not affect Taiwan.

Lockheed Martin spokesperson Cristina Vite said the company is “working closely with our U.S. Army customer to support the U.S. government’s response to the conflict in Ukraine.” She referred other questions to the U.S. government. RTX referred questions to the White House.

The shift applies only to interceptors, not the expensive and complex systems that launch the missiles. But the U.S. and other Western countries are still working on ways to send additional launchers, including Patriot, to Ukraine. Romania announced Thursday that it will donate one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine, on the condition that it will eventually get an alternative system for its own defense.

Lee Hudson contributed to this report.

US gives Ukraine front-of-the-line privileges for air defense missiles
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