US pledges license for Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles

At the NATO summit in Ankara, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air‑defence missiles on Ukrainian soil. The promise includes the transfer of technology from the American firms that produce Patriot interceptors – Lockheed Martin and Raytheon – and comes alongside a new U.S. weapons package that will deliver PAC‑3 missiles to Kyiv in the coming days.

If finalized, Ukraine would become only the third nation, after Japan and Germany, authorized to produce Patriot rockets. Analysts say that moving from political commitment to an operational production line could take several years, with at least a year needed to set up supply chains, negotiate contracts and build a factory. Ukrainian technical teams are already being mobilised to start work on the licensing process.

The decision is presented as a signal to Russia that U.S. support for Ukraine will continue, while also highlighting Washington’s interest in Ukrainian drone capabilities. No specific details were given on whether the license covers the PAC‑2 or the more capable PAC‑3 variant, and the timeline for full domestic production remains uncertain.