As of late 2025, Ukraine's most pressing military needs include advanced air defense systems, long-range strike capabilities, a steady supply of ammunition, and additional drones. The country also continues to struggle with personnel shortages, requiring more effective mobilization and training to sustain its forces.
Air
defense
Countering
Russian air and missile strikes remains a critical priority, particularly with
Russia focusing its attacks on Ukraine's energy grid ahead of winter.
More
Patriot batteries and missiles: A single Patriot battery covers a limited
area, so Ukraine needs more units and interceptors to protect its cities and
infrastructure from ballistic and cruise missiles.
Expanded defense: NATO and the U.S. have begun supplying more Patriot missiles and other air defense systems through new funding mechanisms, such as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
Long-range
strike systems
Ukraine
needs the ability to strike targets deep inside Russia to disrupt military
logistics and deter future attacks.
Tomahawk
cruise missiles: In October 2025, the prospect of the United States
supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles emerged as a major
point of discussion. Their extended range and accuracy would allow Ukraine to
strike high-value targets in Moscow and beyond.
Indigenous
missile production: Facing uncertainty over foreign aid, Ukraine is also
developing its own long-range capabilities. Its new domestic Flamingo cruise
missile is designed to travel 1,800 miles.
Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM): In August 2025, the U.S. approved a potential sale of ERAM missiles, a new air-delivered munition, and related equipment to Ukraine.
Ammunition
and logistics
Artillery
ammunition, rocket systems, and general logistics remain persistent needs for
Ukraine to hold its defensive lines and mount any potential offensive
action.
Artillery
shells: Although NATO production is ramping up, estimates from 2024
indicated Ukraine would need millions of artillery shells annually for defense
and potentially triple that amount for offensive operations.
GMLRS
rockets: These long-range rockets, primarily produced by the U.S., are
crucial for Ukraine's defense, and production is expected to increase.
Expanded ammunition programs: Initiatives like the PURL are helping Ukraine's allies secure ammunition and equipment from U.S. stockpiles.
Drones
Ukraine
has become a leader in drone warfare, and continuing its domestic development
is a major priority. Drones are essential for inflicting heavy losses on
Russian forces and could form the basis of future European defenses.
Naval,
ground, and autonomous drones: Ukraine is producing various advanced drone
systems, including naval drones like the Magura and Katran, ground drones, and
drone-autonomy technology.
Drone funding: Partners like Denmark are investing in Ukrainian defense companies to increase the production of cutting-edge drone technology.
Force
readiness and manpower
In
addition to equipment, Ukraine faces significant challenges with personnel,
including recruitment and the complexity of integrating diverse military
systems.
Officer
training and corps reform: Ukraine is working to train more officers for
staff positions to improve command and coordination, which has been hampered by
a lack of trained staff.
Manpower
shortages: Recruitment challenges persist, and while recent measures have
been taken to boost volunteer sign-ups, the shortage of soldiers remains a
limiting factor.
Standardization: The mix of Western and Soviet-era equipment complicates maintenance and logistics, highlighting the need for greater standardization.
As of late 2025, Ukraine's most pressing needs include more advanced air defense systems, long-range strike capabilities, a massive increase in drone production, and a steady supply of artillery ammunition. Recent announcements indicate that Ukraine and its allies are ramping up efforts to secure more weapons, particularly through cooperative funding initiatives.
Air
defense
This
remains Ukraine's top priority, particularly in protecting against Russia's
renewed focus on striking the country's energy infrastructure ahead of
winter.
Systems:
Ukraine needs additional Patriot systems, plus missiles for other systems it
already operates, including SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T, and HAWK.
Capability:
Russia is using advanced missiles and low-cost drones in combination to
overwhelm and deplete Ukraine's existing air defenses. A single Patriot battery
covers a limited area, so Ukraine needs more systems to provide wider
protection for its territory.
Long-range
missiles
Expanded
long-range strike capabilities would allow Ukraine to more effectively target
Russian military assets and infrastructure deep within Russian territory.
Tomahawk
cruise missiles: A newly developed land-based launcher, the X-MAV, could give
Ukraine the capability to fire Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 1,550
miles. U.S. officials are debating this option, which could escalate tensions
with Russia.
Other options: Allies have already sent other long-range weapons, and Ukraine has continued to conduct effective drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and other military targets.
Drones
and countermeasures
Drone
warfare continues to be a decisive factor, and Ukraine requires both more
drones and improved defenses against Russia's growing drone capabilities.
Drone
production: Ukraine aims to produce four million drones in 2025, supported by a
20-nation "Drone Coalition." However, experts believe Ukraine needs
double that—up to ten million annually—to overwhelm Russian defenses.
Electronic
warfare (EW): This is crucial for defending against Russian drones, especially
as Russia adapts its own drone tactics, such as by using fiber-optic cables to
defeat EW systems.
Robotic systems: Unmanned systems are also needed for tasks like mine-laying and demining, which are too dangerous for human sappers.
Artillery
and ammunition
Despite
Ukraine's push for domestic production, allied assistance with artillery
remains essential.
Artillery
shells: International initiatives, such as a Czech-led program, aim to deliver
millions of shells to Ukraine in 2025. However, European production alone may
not meet Ukraine's daily needs, and the pace of delivery can be a challenge.
Precision rounds: Ukraine requires more precision-guided artillery rounds to strike targets accurately and minimize wasted ammunition.
The
path forward
To
overcome lagging support, Ukraine and its partners are using innovative
approaches:
PURL
initiative: The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) is a mechanism for
NATO allies to fund U.S. weapons for Ukraine from existing U.S. stocks.
International
funding: European nations are using cooperative funding models to finance arms
purchases for Ukraine, with the Netherlands leading the first PURL package.
Focus
on domestic industry: Ukraine continues to scale up its domestic defense
industry to decrease its reliance on external aid.
The "Danish model": Some allies are pooling funds, potentially from frozen Russian assets, to directly procure military equipment from Ukrainian manufacturers.
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+weapons+systems+does+ukraine+need+now+in+2025
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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