Ukraine seeks alternatives to US air defence systems amid tensions with Trump

In the wake of a highly charged press conference in the Oval Office on February 28, where US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for failing to adequately thank the US for its aid, Ukraine and its allies are urgently searching for ways to replace key American-made weapons, including air-defence missiles.

Among the world’s democracies, the US has a near-monopoly on advanced surface-to-air missiles and their supporting systems, including launchers and radars, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

However, as the political climate shifts, this reliance on the US is becoming increasingly unsustainable. “Air defence is one of Ukraine’s most critical needs,” Norwegian Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram said, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Ukraine's cities from Russian missile threats.

Ukraine currently depends on US-made Patriot missile batteries, but the uncertainty of future American support has prompted Europe to step in. Just two days after the tense White House press conference, Zelenskyy met with European leaders in London to discuss new strategies.

During the meeting, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed $2 billion to supply Ukraine with 5,000 Martlet short-range missiles produced by French firm Thales. Additionally, Norwegian company Kongsberg revealed plans to produce surface-to-air missiles in partnership with Ukraine’s defence industry for Ukraine's NASAMS systems.

However, these initiatives fail to address Ukraine's long-range air-defence gap. While the Martlets and NASAMS can counter smaller threats, Patriots are needed to intercept hypersonic missiles and other advanced threats at greater distances. Given the limited supply of Patriot missiles in Ukraine, the country is now looking to European-made systems.

One potential solution is the SAMP/T, a "Euro-Patriot" missile system produced by the Eurosam consortium. Ukraine already has two SAMP/T batteries, but it will need more, along with hundreds of Aster missiles. While Eurosam has made efforts to speed up missile production, challenges remain, and Ukraine’s transition to European air defences is expected to accelerate in the coming months.

So more Asters are on the way as a backup—and potentially a replacement—for Ukraine’s American-made Patriots. The Ukrainians will need additional SAMP/T launchers and radars, too, of course. But the process of Ukraine de-Americanizing its air defences has begun. And will surely accelerate.

By Vafa Guliyeva