What specific U.S. weapons does Ukraine urgently need besides Patriot: Zaluzhnyi explains

The U.S. currently possesses significant stockpiles of outdated or decommission-ready missiles, the transfer of which to Ukraine could be an effective solution amid continued Russian strikes.

This was written by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in his column for Ukrainska Pravda.

«The United States of America remains a country of virtually unlimited capabilities and the most developed economy. Today, the U.S. has significant stockpiles of outdated or decommission-ready missiles, the transfer of which to Ukraine could be an effective solution. This weaponry requires no additional budget expenditures for disposal, while for Ukraine it is vitally necessary, ” Zaluzhnyi stated.

He also cited figures: for example, as of the end of 2023, the U.S. had produced over 170,000 Hellfire missiles of various modifications. A significant portion of this ammunition was manufactured between 1998 and 2018, and their typical service life is 20–25 years — after which they must be officially decommissioned or disposed of.

«Furthermore, under a long-term Pentagon program, there is a gradual transition to the new JAGM system, which is replacing Hellfire in both production and operations. Therefore, a large portion of outdated weapons will be disposed of or transferred to other allied countries, ” he added.