The US Department of Defense is currently studying possible options for granting Ukraine a license to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. However, it is too early to name specific dates for the launch of Ukrainian production due to the complexity of certifying local facilities.
The US Department of Defense is currently studying possible options for granting Ukraine a license to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. However, it is too early to name specific dates for the launch of Ukrainian production due to the complexity of certifying local facilities.
This was reported by Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, in a comment to the specialized publication Breaking Defense.
He said the project is a collaborative effort between the military, U.S. defense cooperation and technology security agencies, and industry players. The team is reviewing comprehensive action plans that will identify sources of supply, capacity locations, and specific missile modifications.
"There is still a long way to go to formalize this process, but there is a strong effort, resourced, and committed to meeting the president's goal of developing a plan," Cadenazzi noted.
The main challenge for transferring the license to produce PAC-3 interceptors, the American official called the qualification and certification of the Ukrainian supply chain. He emphasized that the number of engineers who know the specifics of such work is limited, as is the number of ready-made qualified parts. The search for new reliable suppliers will take considerable time.
The situation could become more complicated if the US decides to license the less functional but cheaper PAC-3 design. Switching to cheaper parts from new contractors would require additional engineering solutions to maintain a high level of product reliability.
Representatives from defense giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon (RTX) confirmed to the publication that discussions on Ukrainian production of Patriot interceptors are only in the initial stages. The industry is awaiting final guidance from the US government.
