Russia produces 100 ballistic missiles monthly as Ukraine's Patriot stocks near depletion

September 9, 2026 at 01:56 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Russia's defense industry is producing up to 100 ballistic missiles per month, including about 60 Iskander-M and 40 RM-48U, according to an analysis in The Economist. Ukraine's Patriot air defense stocks are nearing exhaustion, with only one of 57 ballistic missiles fired in the first eight days of August intercepted. Ukraine announced the destruction of seven ballistic missiles on August 28 using limited PAC-3 munitions, but experts see no new large-scale deliveries in the near future.

Key Facts

Russia produces about 60 Iskander-M and 40 RM-48U ballistic missiles monthly, totaling up to 100, according to The Economist.
In the first eight days of August, Ukraine intercepted only one of 57 Russian ballistic missiles fired.
Ukraine announced the destruction of seven ballistic missiles on August 28 using limited PAC-3 munitions supplied by Western allies.
Ukraine plans to receive several older French-Italian SAMP/T batteries and Aster interceptor missiles by the end of this year, and eight new SAMP/T NG systems next year.
MBDA, the European producer of Aster missiles, will reach an annual capacity of 300 missiles only by 2028.

Missile Production Surge

Russia's defense industry produces up to 100 ballistic missiles per month, including about 60 Iskander-M and 40 RM-48U, according to an analysis in The Economist. In the first eight days of August, Ukraine intercepted only one of 57 Russian ballistic missiles fired. The shortage of interceptor systems capable of stopping Russian ballistic missiles is creating a critical crisis on Ukraine's defense line.

Patriot Stock Depletion

Ukraine announced the destruction of seven ballistic missiles on August 28 using limited PAC-3 munitions supplied by Western allies. Experts do not expect new large-scale munitions deliveries in the near future. US President Donald Trump's military actions against Iran are depleting American Patriot stocks, and limited production makes allies reluctant to transfer their defense systems to Ukraine.

European SAMP/T Deliveries

Ukraine plans to receive several older French-Italian SAMP/T batteries and Aster interceptor missiles by the end of this year, and eight new SAMP/T NG systems next year. The new SAMP/T NG system has an advanced radar capable of tracking Russian missiles that maneuver in the terminal phase, and its unit cost is half that of Patriot. However, military experts and missile analysts warn that the SAMP/T NG system has not yet proven its effectiveness in a real battlefield. MBDA, the European producer of Aster missiles, will reach an annual capacity of 300 missiles only by 2028, and limited licensed production of PAC-2 interceptor missiles in Germany makes a short-term change in Ukraine's favor very difficult.