Washington — The U.S. Department of Defense has delayed finalizing the license that would allow Ukraine to manufacture interceptors for the Patriot air defense system, despite reported approval from senior U.S. officials. The delay comes as Ukraine faces shortages of missiles needed to counter Russian ballistic threats.
According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent Alex Raufoglu, who cited two sources familiar with the matter, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed to the initiative and signed the required project documents in October. However, the final paperwork remains pending with Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The Pentagon has not officially commented on the report.
From Biden to Trump: Patriot Production Plan
Negotiations for licensed Ukrainian production began under former President Joe Biden. In September 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said President Donald Trump had approved the transfer of production licenses during their meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Despite this approval, the licensing process remains incomplete.
Ukraine Faces Patriot Missile Shortages
The delay comes as Ukraine struggles to maintain its Patriot interceptor supplies. Reports in October indicated that its existing stockpile of U.S.-made interceptors had been exhausted.
On November 11, Zelenskyy told Denmark's parliament that available Patriot missiles were being redirected to the Middle East, leaving Ukraine without sufficient supplies to consistently intercept Russian ballistic threats. He also said countries willing to transfer existing Patriot missiles to Ukraine face delays because they require written U.S. authorization.
European Supplies and $2.1 Billion Missile Deal
Ukraine is seeking additional interceptors from European partners. Aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap estimates that European countries hold around 200 PAC-3 missiles, while Greece has approximately 200 older PAC-2 missiles. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also expressed readiness to help Ukraine obtain PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles from allied stocks.
Separately, on October 30, 2026, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $2.1 billion sale of 500 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to Ukraine, financed by Canada, Germany and Norway. However, delivery of these newly manufactured missiles may not begin until after 2030.
Ukrainian Production Could Take Up to Three Years
Even after the licensing paperwork is completed, Ukraine will need time to establish the specialized industrial facilities required for Patriot interceptor production.
Estimates suggest that domestic manufacturing could take 18 months to three years to establish, meaning Ukrainian-made missiles are unlikely to reach the battlefield before 2028.
Until production begins, Ukraine will remain dependent on the United States and European partners for additional Patriot interceptors to maintain its air defense capabilities.
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