Europe must urgently increase missile production capacity to address growing global demand and support Ukraine’s defence needs, the European Union’s defence commissioner warned on Friday.
Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defence, said mounting pressure on global weapons supply chains, intensified by recent military developments in the Middle East, highlights the need for Europe to expand its own missile manufacturing capabilities.
Speaking in Poland during the first stop of what he described as a “Missile Tour,” Kubilius stressed that Ukraine’s battlefield requirements, particularly for air defence systems, significantly exceed the current production capacity of Western manufacturers.
Rising Demand for Air Defence Systems
Kubilius said Ukraine continues to face heavy missile attacks from Russia, making air defence interceptors one of the country’s most urgent military needs.
“Missiles, drones and extended-range 155mm ammunition are Ukraine’s key priorities,” Kubilius said, noting that missile supply has become the most difficult category for allies to provide.
According to EU estimates, Ukraine experienced nearly 2,000 missile strikes during 2025, including approximately 900 ballistic missiles launched by Russian forces. These types of missiles are particularly difficult to intercept and require advanced systems such as the Patriot air defence platform.
Patriot Missile Demand Outpaces Supply
Kubilius said Ukraine required around 700 Patriot interceptor missiles during the four-month winter period alone. Intercepting a single incoming ballistic missile often requires multiple defensive interceptors.
However, production levels remain limited. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of PAC-3 interceptor missiles used in Patriot systems, produced about 600 units in 2025.
Kubilius warned that the United States alone cannot meet the growing demand for these missiles from multiple regions.
“Americans will not be able to provide enough of those missiles for the Gulf countries, for their own army, and also for Ukraine,” he said.
“The situation is really critical,” Kubilius added. “We need to develop missile production in a very urgent and very rapid way.”
Middle East Conflict Adds Pressure
European officials say the latest crisis in the Middle East has further exposed vulnerabilities in global defence supply chains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a briefing that more than 800 U.S.-made missiles had been used in the Middle East within a three-day period to intercept Iranian missiles and drones.
“Ukraine has never had this many missiles to repel attacks,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly urged international allies to supply additional Patriot missiles, including both PAC-2 and PAC-3 variants, noting that the systems are often deployed almost immediately after delivery due to the intensity of attacks.
Strategic Push for European Defence Manufacturing
The EU’s renewed focus on expanding missile production reflects broader efforts to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and reduce reliance on external suppliers during periods of geopolitical tension.
Officials say scaling up manufacturing capacity will be essential to sustain support for Ukraine while also meeting Europe’s own defence requirements in an increasingly uncertain security environment.
