Patriot missile production in Ukraine could be delayed for years — Bloomberg
The idea of establishing production of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems in Ukraine, proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, will not yield quick results. It could take years to implement such a project.
According to media reports, even if production were to begin, Ukraine would not be able to obtain the necessary number of missiles to strengthen its air defense in the near future. That is why this step is viewed as a long-term prospect rather than a quick solution to air defense needs.
Manufacturing Lockheed Martin’s Patriot missiles in Ukraine, especially on an industrial scale, will be an unprecedented undertaking. The complexity of the project will depend on the type of missiles planned for production.
In particular, PAC-3 missiles, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, are among the most advanced air defense systems in the world and are currently produced only in the United States and Japan. The cost of a single such missile is approximately $5 million
“It takes years to develop a Patriot missile, which means that Ukrainian production of these missiles won’t materialize in the near term, which is what they need,” said Becca Wasser, head of defense at Bloomberg Economics.
She also noted: “Furthermore, Ukraine’s ability to rapidly produce drones and missiles may not apply to Patriot production, given strict U.S. technology controls.”
According to Bloomberg, existing supply chains for Patriot missile production are already operating at full capacity. At the same time, setting up a new production line would require specialized equipment and staff training, which would further extend the timeline for such a project.
As previously reported, Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, noted that the production of missiles for Patriot air defense systems in Ukraine is technically feasible, but launching the necessary production capacity could take a year or more due to the complexity of organizing the process and dependence on subcontractors.
This was reported by Bloomberg.
Trump stated that the U.S. may allow Ukraine to produce missiles for the Patriot system.
As a reminder, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Spain ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, declaring his intention to sever trade relations and halt visits between the two countries.
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