Patriot production for Ukraine could be set up in Europe — Reuters
Ukraine is seeking to launch production of missiles for Patriot systems under a U.S. license as soon as possible. However, according to Reuters, this process may not begin in Ukraine, but in one of the European countries.
Experts explain that setting up such production in Ukraine would take at least a year, while missiles to defend against Russian ballistic strikes are needed right now. That is why one of the most realistic options is considered to be production in Europe, with the capacity subsequently transferred to Ukraine after the war ends.
Launching production of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems in Ukraine could take significantly longer than expected. That is why partners are considering the possibility of setting up ammunition production in Europe. Reuters reports this, citing sources and defense industry experts. Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that he was prepared to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems under a U.S. license, this decision was described as an important political signal for Kyiv. At the same time, experts emphasize that a rapid launch of production should not be expected.
According to Fabian Hoffmann, an expert on missile systems at the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies, setting up such a production facility is a very complex process. “I would be very surprised if this happened in less than 12 months. I assume it will take considerably longer,” he said.
Experts explain that the production of interceptor missiles for Raytheon’s Patriot PAC-2 systems or the more advanced PAC-3 systems from Lockheed Martin is one of the most complex areas in the missile industry. That is why, according to Reuters, the new missiles may not be manufactured in Ukraine.
According to two sources interviewed by the agency, the most likely production site is Germany or another European country, where it is safer to work and the necessary production capacity already exists. Germany already has its own production line for manufacturing PAC-2 interceptor missiles, which will allow production to begin more quickly.
At the same time, the sources note that once the war ends, production could gradually be moved to Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that Ukrainian and American technical teams are set to begin work on implementing the agreements in the near future. “We want production to begin in Ukraine as soon as possible,” the head of state emphasized.Zelenskyy also reported that deliveries of American PAC-3 interceptor missiles are expected in the coming days. In addition, Ukraine has asked its allies to transfer additional missiles from their stockpiles under the agreed-upon cooperation mechanism with NATO.
The need for such missiles remains very high. According to expert estimates, Russia produces at least 700–800 “Iskander” ballistic missiles and “Kinzhal” hypersonic missiles each year. It typically takes three Patriot missiles to intercept a single ballistic missile. This means that to counter the current pace of Russian production, Ukraine may need about 2,400 interceptor missiles per year.
Even if production begins in Ukraine, meeting this demand will not be easy. “Even with a licensed manufacturing facility in Ukraine, achieving this figure will be very, very difficult, if not impossible,” noted Fabian Hoffmann.
According to his estimate, a Ukrainian factory would be able to produce approximately 200–300 interceptor missiles per year. At the same time, Ukraine is also working on its own solutions in the field of missile defense.
President Zelenskyy stated that the country also needs a “Plan B”—the development of its own Freya anti-ballistic missile system. Jack Watling, an analyst at the British Royal United Services Institute, believes this project is risky but promising. “Fire Point’s Freya project is a risky venture, but if it works, the payoff will be enormous,” he said.
In addition, experts cite the European SAMP/T NG system—developed by Eurosam in collaboration with MBDA and Thales—as a possible alternative. It could also become one of the components of Ukraine’s future air and missile defense system, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who arrived in Kyiv on a working visit. During the talks, the parties discussed increasing sanctions pressure on Russia, Ukraine’s needs for air defense systems, and further military cooperation with the United States.
