Can Ukraine produce Patriot missiles? Aviation expert responds

Ukraine could theoretically take part in producing missiles for the Patriot air defense system, but this would not involve a complete manufacturing cycle. A more realistic scenario at present is assembling units from foreign components, aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko told Radio NV.

Romanenko explained that Ukraine could receive components from partners, including the United States, and carry out assembly at its own facilities.

«This is the maximum we can do. Obtaining a license would be beneficial if components for these missiles were provided by Japan. That way, Japan’s constitution, which forbids supplying finished military products to countries at war, would not be a barrier. We could set up parallel assembly in Ukraine alongside American production,» he said.

In practice, the expert concludes, this is not full missile production but assembly in Ukraine from supplied components, which gives the country additional capabilities in air defense.

According to specialists, even this limited scenario could enhance the country’s defense capabilities and reduce dependence on imported missiles, particularly amid active hostilities.