The world lines up for Patriot air defense systems. Euractiv reports that the demand for the systems has reached historic levels, pushing American defense giant Raytheon, the world’s second-largest arms manufacturer, to significantly increase its European production.

In recent years, orders for Patriot systems have surged as European countries strengthen their defenses and replenish platforms sent to Ukraine. In response, Raytheon is exploring deeper industrial partnerships within the EU to meet demand.

Ukraine strikes first at Russian launchers which carry 800-kg explosive missiles prepared to hit Kyiv after Operation Spiderweb

This means the producer could double its Patriot missile production by 2028 or 2030. 

Despite some European discussions around moving away from US-made defense products, the Patriot system remains unrivaled in popularity. Recent large-scale orders from countries like Germany and Switzerland are contributing to delivery queues stretching years ahead.

European customers have already placed orders for over 1,000 additional Patriot interceptor missiles. Raytheon currently operates Patriot maintenance centers in Europe and co-produces NASAMS air defense systems with Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg.

However, the production boom isn’t without obstacles. Raytheon faces challenges sourcing critical components, especially for the GEM-T variant of Patriot missiles and their warheads.

Still, the company has resumed production of Stinger anti-tank systems due to overwhelming demand, and will continue even as a new short-range missile, NGSRI, enters service.

Raytheon is also eyeing long-term business opportunities in Ukraine, where officials are seeking faster deliveries and exploring joint production ventures with the US defense company.

The key question in negotiations remains how to get systems to Ukraine as quickly as possible.

Kremlin officials publicly stated that Russia seeks the “complete destruction” of Ukraine, signaling Moscow’s lack of interest in genuine peace negotiations, according to recent statements analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War.

Russia’s Istanbul memorandum reflects the Kremlin’s public demands for Ukraine to make significant territorial and political concessions while Russia offers no concessions of its own.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev claimed on 3 June that Russia needs negotiations in Istanbul to result in Russia’s “swift victory [in Ukraine] and the complete destruction” of the Ukrainian government rather than a “compromise[d] peace on someone else’s delusional terms,” the ISW reports.

Medvedev stated that Russia’s 2 June Istanbul memorandum aligned with these objectives and threatened that Russia will “explode” everything and “disappear” anyone who opposes Russia in response to recent Ukrainian drone strikes.

The operation Spider Web on 1 June involved over 100 Ukrainian drones, covertly transported into Russia hidden in trucks, which targeted Russian strategic airbases destroying or damaging 41 long-range bombers used for attacks on Ukraine.

The ISW assesses that Russian officials have engaged with the United States in bilateral meetings as part of ongoing US mediation efforts, but have yet to demonstrate willingness to compromise on their long-standing demands.

Russia remains committed to pursuing demands that amount to nothing short of Ukraine’s full capitulation and will continue this objective as long as Putin believes Russia can militarily defeat Ukraine.

Simultaneously, Russia continues expanding its military capabilities against Ukraine, with reports by Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate showing that Russian forces had stockpiled over 13,000 ballistic, cruise, and other missiles as of mid-May 2025.

The stockpile includes almost 600 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, over 100 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles, almost 300 Kh-101 cruise missiles, over 400 Kalibr cruise missiles, up to 300 Kh-22/32 cruise missiles, about 700 Oniks cruise missiles and Zirkon anti-ship missiles, about 60 North Korean-produced KN-23 ballistic missiles, and approximately 11,000 S-300/400 air defense missiles.

The intelligence directorate estimated that Russia can produce roughly 150-200 missiles per month. The ISW concludes that Russian efforts to increase domestic drone and missile production and ongoing adaptation of strike packages are likely part of preparations for a prolonged war in Ukraine and possibly a future conflict against NATO.

In May 2025, the ISW also reported that Russia increased production of Shahed drones from about 100 to a planned 500 per day, and upgrading drone technologies with AI and improved navigation to evade Ukrainian defenses.