Trump signals possible license for Ukraine to build simplified Patriot missiles

President Donald Trump, speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, indicated that Ukraine might be allowed to manufacture a less advanced version of Patriot missiles, though he did not specify when a final decision would be made. He highlighted that the United States possesses extensive reserves of high-end weaponry and is accelerating production of Patriot, THAAD and Tomahawk systems, with companies essentially built for that purpose.

Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, said Washington is currently discussing licence options with Kyiv. Former special envoy Keith Kellogg explained that major defense firms, including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, oppose a full licence out of concern for technology loss. Two possible missile types were cited: the cheaper PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector from Lockheed Martin and the older PAC-2 GEM-T from Raytheon, the latter already approved for production in Germany. The remarks came amid broader Western calls for additional air-defence support to Ukraine.