Ukraine is preparing to formally request advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense systems from the US and Middle Eastern partners, arguing they could dramatically reduce the threat posed by Russia’s guided aerial bombs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Speaking to reporters in a closed-door meeting on Thursday, Zelensky said Kyiv is finalizing a revised proposal on security guarantees while simultaneously seeking access to high-end air defense systems not currently available in Europe.
“Ukraine must have a clear understanding of its security guarantees. Everything must be spelled out so that Ukrainians understand them,” Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv will soon submit its updated framework to Washington.
A key issue, he said, is defining how the US would respond in the event of renewed Russian aggression.
Ukraine also intends to maintain a force of around 800,000 troops, though questions remain over how such a military would be financed beyond the state budget.
Targeting the KAB threat
Zelensky singled out the US-developed THAAD system as a potential “game changer” against Russia’s widespread use of guided aerial bombs (KABs).
KABs are Soviet-era “dumb” bombs retrofitted with wings and satellite navigation modules, allowing them to glide long distances after being dropped from aircraft.
Russian jets typically release them from tens of kilometers away, often outside the reach of most Ukrainian air defenses.
Once launched, the bomb uses GPS or similar guidance to adjust its path and strike targets with relatively high precision.
While cheaper than missiles, KABs carry large explosive payloads and have been used extensively against frontline positions and cities, causing heavy destruction.
Because the aircraft launching them do not need to enter contested airspace, intercepting the bombs – or the planes carrying them – has become a major challenge for Ukraine.
Why THAAD matters
THAAD is a ground-based missile defense system designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes, including outside the atmosphere.
It relies on the AN/TPY-2 radar, which can detect targets at distances of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles). However, each radar covers only about 120 degrees, requiring multiple systems for full-area protection.
Ukraine has already begun consultations with Gulf states that operate similar anti-ballistic systems, he said.
“We want to rely on systems that they have but we do not,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky said systems like THAAD could change the dynamic of the war. According to him, deploying THAAD could push Russian aircraft at least 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from Ukrainian positions, effectively removing the threat of aerial bomb strikes.
“Russian planes simply would not approach,” he said.
Kyiv plans to outline its own vision for how such systems could be integrated, after which the US side is expected to review the proposal.
Zelensky recently hinted at ongoing efforts to source alternatives to the PAC-3 Patriot air defense missiles but remained tight-lipped on details, saying he would share more once talks are finalized. It is unclear if he was referring to the THAAD systems.