In brief
After Ukraine formally requested it, President Donald Trump announced he would grant a licence to produce Patriot missiles. The offer comes amid a surge of Russian ballistic strikes that have already killed dozens of Ukrainians. While the U.S. has not yet informed Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of the decision, experts warn Ukraine lacks the industrial base to manufacture such advanced munitions. The announcement during the Ankara NATO summit signals a shift in U.S. support for Kyiv, though practical implementation may take months.
Trump Offers Ukraine Licence to Produce Patriot Missiles
US President Donald Trump has offered to give Ukraine the right to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, a move that could enhance Kyiv’s ability to counter Russia’s ballistic attacks.
"We are gonna give you a licence to make Patriots," Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during Wednesday’s NATO summit. He added that once the production process is explained, Ukraine could manufacture the interceptors quickly.
The president said he had not yet informed defence manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of his decision, but he assured that the process would 'work out alright'.
Patriots are among the world’s most advanced air‑defence systems, with a single battery—completing missiles and launchers—valued at roughly $1 billion. Production is slow; the U.S. Defence Department reports only 600 missiles are made each year.
The United States is reluctant to part with any, citing that more than half of its stockpile was used in its recent war with Iran. "We have Patriots, but we don't have that many. We need them for ourselves too," Trump said.
Moscow’s recent ballistic missile campaign has caught even the most hardened defences short. The Ukrainian Air Force noted a "serious shortage" of interceptor missiles, with none of the 23 rockets fired on Sunday night being shot down. The attack killed more than 20 people in Kyiv.
Military expert Ivan Stupak warned that while Patriot interceptors are vital for Ukraine, the country’s current industrial capacity is insufficient to produce such sophisticated weapons. He suggested that the licence would likely result in production on European soil under tight supervision, a process that could take many months.
The announcement also highlighted the continued strategic push by the US to support Ukraine’s long‑range strikes on Russia. Trump noted that Ukraine’s recent successes in hitting targets thousands of kilometres away could help curb the conflict, though his calls for a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin have yet to bear fruit.
