Ukraine to Build Patriot Missiles, but Years of Work Lie Ahead
The US approved a license for Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptors, a potential breakthrough for Kyiv, but the pathway is long. Export controls mean six months to a year of paperwork before Lockheed Martin can grant a production license. Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot stock and would need to build a dispersed factory with subcontractors, while supply issues for key components persist. Even if the plan progresses, the earliest deliveries would be years away, making this a long-term investment in deterrence and broader European defense capacity.