For Ukraine, acquiring advanced missile defense capabilities remains a strategic priority due to the persistent threat posed by russian missiles such as the Kinzhal, Zircon, and the newer Oreshnik. However, the global availability of missile defense systems (as opposed to general air defense systems) capable of intercepting such ballistic threats is extremely limited.
This is why the American-made THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system remains in the spotlight, despite complex geopolitical circumstances. Yet, current delivery schedules show that even if Ukraine were allowed to place an order today, it would not receive a single battery before 2031, at the earliest.
Read more: Why Patriot Can't Counter Oreshnik, Even THAAD May Fall Short, and What Is Truly Needed
This projection is based on the current pace of deliveries to the U.S. Army, the system’s primary customer. According to Polish defense publication ZBiAM, the U.S. military is still in the process of receiving its eighth THAAD battery.
So far, three of the six launchers and the fire control center, produced by Lockheed Martin, have been delivered. The remaining launchers are expected to arrive by the end of September 2025.
The system’s radar, the AN/TPY-2, is manufactured by Raytheon. To date, the U.S. has received seven THAAD batteries, two of which are reportedly deployed in Israel to provide regional missile defense.
Importantly, the U.S. Army placed the order for its eighth battery back in 2022. Even with everything proceeding on schedule, the timeline remains six years, which forms the basis of the estimated delivery time for any potential Ukrainian order.
In fact, even the "six-year minimum" could be seen as optimistic. Saudi Arabia entered the queue earlier, placing a $15 billion order for seven THAAD batteries in 2021. The country has already trained over 100 military personnel to operate the system, but won’t receive its first launchers until 2026.
Another limiting factor is the availability of interceptor missiles. As of February 2025, only 900 THAAD interceptors have been delivered to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency since 2006, an average of just 50 per year. This represents a significant bottleneck for any attempt to expand access to the system.
Read more: Ukraine Asked the US for the THAAD System Against russian Kinzhal Missiles, But It Will Be Deployed in Israel
