Ukraine secures priority for American missiles: 16‑month supply boost

The Defense Express portal reminds us that Ukrainians have received priority from the United States for the supply of missiles for the Patriot system and AIM-120 AMRAAM (for F-16 fighters). This means that for the next 16 months, Kyiv will prioritize receiving this valuable ammunition. So, how many missiles will reach Ukraine during this time?

Analysts from the Defense Express portal explain the effect of the priority in American ammunition supply for Ukrainian forces. The Pentagon's decision to grant Ukraine priority for these missiles means that all contracts for supplying this ammunition to recipients other than Taiwan are suspended until the end of the fiscal year 2025, i.e., until October 1, 2025.

For Ukrainians, this means that for about the next 16 months, they will be prioritized in terms of missile production and delivery. But given the American military industry's production capabilities, what specific amounts of ammunition can we expect?

Analysts at Defense Express note that Ukrainians' priority applies exclusively to missiles produced in the USA, specifically GEM-T and PAC-3 MSE for the Patriot system and AIM-120 for F-16s.

The publication reveals that the American conglomerate Raytheon recently announced it could produce 20 GEM-T missiles per month, or 240 missiles annually. Regarding the PAC-3 MSE, the Pentagon estimates a production rate of 500 missiles annually (42 missiles per month). Meanwhile, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles intended for the F-16 are currently produced in about 500-800 units annually. Still, current orders require increased output to 1,200 units annually, the capacity limit.

Based on the current data on the production of all three types of missiles, the total production volume over the coming 16 months will be 320 units of GEM-T, 640 PAC-3 MSE, and 640-1060 AIM-120 missiles. Analysts, however, note that Americans will likely increase efficiency, resulting in a slightly larger number of rockets being produced.

Let's recall that the Patriot's PAC-3 MSE missiles have a length of 17 feet and a diameter of 10 inches. The weapon accelerates to Mach 5, or over 3,790 mph, while its maximum range reaches 28 miles. The GEM-T is an improved missile equipped with a proximity fuse and a more accurate radar receiver with new electronic components.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are intended for F-16 fighters, measuring over 12 feet long and accelerating to Mach 4, or nearly 3,050 mph. Their range reaches 47 miles; out of the entire construction weighing over 330 pounds, the warhead alone accounts for about 44 pounds.