KYIV — March 12, 2026 : The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence is procuring domestically produced anti-aircraft missiles to meet operational air defense requirements amid continuing Russian aerial attacks. The procurement program includes both newly manufactured Ukrainian munitions and the modernization of existing missile inventories.
The purchases were confirmed by Arsen Zhumadilov, director of Ukraine’s Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), in an interview with the defense outlet Militarnyi. According to Zhumadilov, Ukrainian manufacturers are producing a range of anti-aircraft missiles that are being supplied to the armed forces.
“Yes, there is such a product range, it is produced by our manufacturers,” Zhumadilov said while confirming the procurement of locally produced missiles.
Modernization of Missile Inventory
Zhumadilov did not specify whether the missiles being acquired are entirely new Ukrainian developments or upgraded versions of Soviet-era designs. He noted that legacy systems undergo extensive modernization before deployment.
“This is not the same product that existed during the Soviet era. It is still being refined and improved. It undergoes appropriate testing and modernization,” he said.
According to Zhumadilov, the modernization cycle applies to the entire range of missile systems used by the Ukrainian military, including both Soviet-era designs and systems developed domestically after Ukraine’s independence.
He also confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is procuring complete anti-aircraft systems in addition to individual missile munitions, although he did not indicate whether those systems are domestically produced or sourced from foreign suppliers.
Shershen Multi-Caliber Air Defense System
One domestic project under development is the Shershen multi-caliber air defense system, developed by the National Association of Defence Industries of Ukraine.
According to developers, the system has been tested with five types of interceptor missiles, including Soviet-era missiles, foreign interceptors, and new Ukrainian missile designs.
Images and models of the system show launch pads configured for R-73 and R-27 missiles. These missiles were originally designed for air-to-air combat but are adapted in the Shershen system for ground-based air defense roles.
Technical Design and Deployment
The Shershen launcher uses a modular deployment concept. The system incorporates a multilift mechanism that allows the launcher module to be removed from its transport vehicle and deployed on the ground as a separate operational unit. The concept is similar to the configuration used by the Israeli Barak air defense system.
The system is not tied to a specific radar station. Instead, it uses a separate antenna post and can integrate with different radar sources for target detection.
Shershen is designed to operate with Ukraine’s Krechet command-and-control system, allowing it to receive targeting information from external sensor networks.
Missile Range
The engagement range of the system depends on the missile type used. For example, the R-27ET1 missile variant with a thermal homing seeker provides an engagement range of up to 20 kilometers.
Ukraine’s procurement of domestically produced missiles and development of systems such as Shershen is intended to support the country’s layered air defense network through a combination of modernized legacy weapons and new domestic technologies.
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