License could let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles, but it won't be simple or quick - MyNorthwest.com

A license could let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles, but it won’t be simple or quick—U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, that Washington would grant Ukraine permission to produce the U.S.-designed Patriot air-defense systems it has sought to protect cities from Russian missiles and drones. Trump suggested Ukraine could make them “pretty quickly,” but Ukrainian officials and analysts warn timelines are likely measured in years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said diplomats and defense officials must finalize licensing arrangements “without pauses.” The scope of any license remains unclear: Patriot interceptor missiles are produced by U.S. contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon (RTX), and a license may not cover complete batteries with launchers, radars, command posts, and missiles assembled from scratch. Experts note licensing may instead cover parts, final assembly from imported kits, selected components, and related technical documentation, training, supplier contacts, and consultants. An administration official said the U.S. is accelerating and expanding Patriot production and building industrial partnerships globally, though details on the Ukraine license were not provided.