Expert: Patriot missile license for Ukraine would not mean quick or safe production

Recent reports have suggested that Ukraine might receive a license to manufacture missiles for the US-made Patriot air-defense system. Jānis Slaidiņš, a major in the Latvian National Armed Forces and an officer at the National Guard headquarters, has urged caution when interpreting the news.

Speaking on the TV24 program “Aktuālais par karadarbību Ukrainā,” Slaidiņš commented on US President Donald Trump’s cautious remarks about the possible production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine. Trump is reported to have said the issue is still under review, since the weapons are highly complex and any transfer of technology requires careful consideration. Slaidiņš believes official confirmation should be expected, though even that may not be made public for security reasons.

According to Slaidiņš, obtaining a license would not resolve all problems. He noted that the missile casing could be built in Ukraine, but the internal components and electronics come from the United States. Much of the Patriot system’s software and technology is tied to US state secrets, meaning Ukraine would still need close cooperation with American partners and a steady supply of key components.

The program also reminded viewers that the Patriot system is manufactured outside the US by Japan’s Mitsubishi. In that case too, licensing and intellectual property rights remain essential.

Slaidiņš highlighted an additional risk: if production were set up on Ukrainian territory, Russia would likely do everything possible to locate and destroy the facility. Moscow already regularly targets Ukraine’s defense industry, and there have been recent reports of a strike on a plant linked to drone production. Therefore, even a positive decision on the license would not guarantee that manufacturing could be carried out safely and fully in Ukraine.