- The U.S. State Department approved a $105 million package to upgrade Ukraine’s Patriot M901 launchers to the M903 configuration.
- The sale includes sustainment equipment, training, spare parts, and support provided by RTX and Lockheed Martin.
The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $105 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for the modernization and sustainment of its Patriot air defense systems, according to a notification released by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The proposed sale includes an upgrade of Ukraine’s current M901 launchers to the newer M903 configuration, enabling the use of advanced missile types, including PAC-3 and PAC-3MSE variants.
As stated in the DSCA announcement, “The Government of Ukraine has requested to buy sustainment related articles and services for the PATRIOT air defense system, including the upgrade of M901 launchers to M903 configuration; classified and unclassified prescribed load lists and authorized stockage lists for ground support equipment; other necessary services, ancillaries, spare parts, support, training, and accessories; and other related elements of logistics and program support.”
The agency noted that the upgrade “will improve Ukraine’s ability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust local sustainment capability.” According to the DSCA, Ukraine “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The modernization will enable the launchers to use the latest missile types available under PAC-3 and PAC-3MSE upgrade packages.
The total estimated cost of the package is $105 million. The primary contractors for the program will be RTX Corporation of Arlington, Virginia, and Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Maryland. At present, there is no offset agreement associated with this potential sale, though DSCA notes that “any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.”
Implementation will involve approximately five U.S. government personnel and fifteen contractor representatives to support training and scheduled meetings under U.S. European Command for up to one month. The DSCA emphasized that “there will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”