Patriot production in Ukraine may begin based on the Japanese model

Ukraine is engaged in political dialogue with Japan regarding the possible launch of Patriot air defense system production on its territory. Kyiv is considering the possibility of establishing such production under a U.S. license. This was announced by Serhiy Kyslytsia, First Deputy Head of the Office of the President.

According to him, Japan is one of the few countries authorized to manufacture Patriot systems under a U.S. license. “We are engaged in a political dialogue to explore avenues for cooperation on this issue with Japan, which is one of the few countries to have obtained a license to manufacture the Patriot air defense missile system,” Kyslytsia said.

Japan’s Experience in Patriot Production

Ukraine is interested in the experience of the Japanese defense industry. In particular, the activities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which manufactures interceptor missiles for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, are drawing attention. Kyslytsia noted that Patriot systems are intended for defense purposes. Therefore, in his opinion, Japan’s participation in such cooperation should not conflict with its legal restrictions, particularly the country’s pacifist Constitution.

“The Patriot systems are defensive in nature, so Japan, which adheres to a pacifist Constitution, should not face any legal restrictions on such cooperation,” said the representative of the Office of the President. At the same time, Kyslytsia declined to comment on whether Ukraine is conducting direct negotiations with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries regarding potential production.

Ukraine Is Expanding Its Own Weapons Production

Establishing its own production of air defense systems is one of the areas Ukraine is working on. Kyiv aims to reduce its dependence on foreign arms supplies and develop its own defense capabilities.

Patriot systems remain one of the most important means of protecting Ukrainian airspace from Russian missile strikes. At the same time, due to the high complexity of production and the need for American technology, their manufacture requires international cooperation. This was stated by Serhiy Kyslytsia, First Deputy Head of the Office of the President, in an interview with Kyodo News. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the government is updating its plan to protect grain exports. At the same time, the government is working to diversify its export and import operations and identify additional logistical solutions.