The Patriot missile system is incredibly hard to replace due to extreme cost asymmetry and sluggish industrial supply chains. With each PAC-3 MSE interceptor costing US$4 million and taking 30 months to build, militaries face a ruinous trap when firing them at cheap drones.


The Patriot missile system is incredibly hard to replace due to extreme cost asymmetry and sluggish industrial supply chains. With each PAC-3 MSE interceptor costing US$4 million and taking 30 months to build, militaries face a ruinous trap when firing them at cheap drones.

Patriot missile system: Why it is so hard to replace

The US is facing a critical Patriot missile shortage, with stockpiles falling to just 25 per cent of required levels following heavy usage in Ukraine and the Middle East. To fix this, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a US$58.6 billion contract to triple production by 2030.


The US is facing a critical Patriot missile shortage, with stockpiles falling to just 25 per cent of required levels following heavy usage in Ukraine and the Middle East. To fix this, the Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a US$58.6 billion contract to triple production by 2030.

Why the world is running short of Patriot missiles

The US military is facing a severe shortage of Patriot missile interceptors in Europe, with officials warning that stocks have fallen to levels that could leave NATO vulnerable to a potential Russian ballistic missile attack.According to The Associated Press, a US defence official in Europe and a NATO official said the shortage has been driven largely by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. The most serious gap involves Patriot interceptors, which are among the few systems capable of stopping Russia’s high-speed ballistic missiles. The US official said American forces in Europe “definitely” lack enough Patriots to withstand a sustained ballistic missile assault and would have “very limited” capability against even a single strike.The shortfall is a consequence of Washington shifting missile stocks from Europe to the Middle East, where US and Gulf forces have fired large numbers of interceptors against Iranian drones and missiles. Some of those attacks have resulted in American casualties.The warning comes as NATO continues to assess the longer-term threat posed by Russia. While a Russian attack on the alliance is not considered imminent, European officials believe Moscow could be capable of challenging NATO countries by 2030.NATO, however, disputes the severity of the assessment. Col. Martin O’Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, said it was “simply not the case” that Patriot supplies had reached a critical level. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also rejected claims of shortages, saying the US has “everything required” for military operations.Ukraine has added pressure to the dwindling stockpile, having received hundreds of Patriot missiles since Russia’s invasion. But experts say the Iran war accelerated the depletion unexpectedly, exposing limits in US production capacity.Europe has few immediate substitutes. France and Italy’s SAMP/T NG offers another option, but its predecessor has a shorter range, and the upgraded system has yet to see combat.Russia, meanwhile, faces its own constraints. Experts say Moscow’s continued attacks on Ukraine could limit its ability to sustain a major air campaign against NATO.

US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are reportedly at “beyond critical” levels as the Iran war drains interceptors, raising concerns over NATO’s ability to counter a potential Russian attack.

The US military is facing a severe shortage of Patriot missile interceptors in Europe, with officials warning that stocks have fallen to levels that could leave NATO vulnerable to a potential Russian ballistic missile attack. According to The Associated Press, a US defence official in Europe and a NATO official said the shortage has been driven largely by President Donald Trump’s war with Iran. The most serious gap involves Patriot interceptors, which are among the few systems capable of stopping Russia’s high-speed ballistic missiles. The US official said American forces in Europe “definitely” lack enough Patriots to withstand a sustained ballistic missile assault and would have “very limited” capability against even a single strike. The shortfall is a consequence of Washington shifting missile stocks from Europe to the Middle East, where US and Gulf forces have fired large numbers of interceptors against Iranian drones and missiles. Some of those attacks have resulted in American casualties. The warning comes as NATO continues to assess the longer-term threat posed by Russia. While a Russian attack on the alliance is not considered imminent, European officials believe Moscow could be capable of challenging NATO countries by 2030. NATO, however, disputes the severity of the assessment. Col. Martin O’Donnell, a senior NATO military spokesperson, said it was “simply not the case” that Patriot supplies had reached a critical level. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also rejected claims of shortages, saying the US has “everything required” for military operations. Ukraine has added pressure to the dwindling stockpile, having received hundreds of Patriot missiles since Russia’s invasion. But experts say the Iran war accelerated the depletion unexpectedly, exposing limits in US production capacity. Europe has few immediate substitutes. France and Italy’s SAMP/T NG offers another option, but its predecessor has a shorter range, and the upgraded system has yet to see combat. Russia, meanwhile, faces its own constraints. Experts say Moscow’s continued attacks on Ukraine could limit its ability to sustain a major air campaign against NATO.

US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are reportedly at “beyond critical” levels as the Iran war drains interceptors, raising concerns over NATO’s ability to counter a potential Russian attack.

US Patriot stocks in Europe ‘beyond critical’ levels amid Iran war? NATO faces Russia threat

Russia on Sunday claimed that Su-35s have struck a US-made Patriot Defence system within Ukrainian territory. A Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile supposedly struck a Ukrainian MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defence system from about 125 kms away. The attack was carried out on August 23 at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. The claim is yet to be confirmed by Ukraine, and the extent of damage at the target is disputed. Some reports have described it as a separate radar station instead of a Patriot component.According to Military Watch magazine, Russian Forces have released footage showing a Su-35 launching the missile at what they identified as components of a Ukrainian Patriot system. The claim that it was struck from 125 kms comes from the target range indicator displayed on the Su-35’s Head-Up Display (HUD) in the leaked or released cockpit video. The claim comes as Ukraine is experiencing a severe shortage of Patriot missile defence systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been intensely lobbying Western allies for access to deeper US stockpiles and hundreds of additional interceptors.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/revanth-reddy-returns-hyderabad-mea-denies-us-visit-clearance-1787578195030">'Insult' to 4 crore people of Telangana: Why CM Revanth Reddy's US visit clearance was denied</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Su-35S firing Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile at the Patriot SAM. According to the target range cue, the missile was fired from ~125 km. Due to the dynamic launch zone, minimum launch range is ~55 km. There is no mark showing maximum launch range, so it can be 200 km or above. <a href="https://t.co/q6DZ6r4alr">pic.twitter.com/q6DZ6r4alr</a>&mdash; Flanker (@Su_35S_Flanker) <a href="https://x.com/Su_35S_Flanker/status/2090848550527603059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Why is the Kh- 31PM missile lethal?</h2>Russia deployed the Kh-31PM, a high-speed, anti-radiation missile (ARM) explicitly engineered to target and home in on enemy radar emissions. It does not transmit a radar signal to find its target, which is a major advantage. An aircraft launching a conventional active-radar missile must potentially expose itself to lock on to the target, but an ARM uses electromagnetic radiation from enemy radar systems.The missile has a minimum range of 55 kms to a maximum range of 300 kms. The missile is an upgrade of the Soviet-era Kh-31P. It retains the high speed and improves the seeker and propulsion system. It has a top speed of Mach 4 and uses a solid-fuel rocket booster to accelerate rapidly after launch; then the booster is discarded, and a ramjet sustainer takes over. This gives the missile a high-speed thrust, making it extremely hard to intercept.&nbsp;

Russia claims a Su-35 fighter jet struck a US-made Patriot air defence system in Odesa with a Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile from around 125 km away.

Russia on Sunday claimed that Su-35s have struck a US-made Patriot Defence system within Ukrainian territory. A Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile supposedly struck a Ukrainian MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defence system from about 125 kms away. The attack was carried out on August 23 at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. The claim is yet to be confirmed by Ukraine, and the extent of damage at the target is disputed. Some reports have described it as a separate radar station instead of a Patriot component. According to Military Watch magazine, Russian Forces have released footage showing a Su-35 launching the missile at what they identified as components of a Ukrainian Patriot system. The claim that it was struck from 125 kms comes from the target range indicator displayed on the Su-35’s Head-Up Display (HUD) in the leaked or released cockpit video. The claim comes as Ukraine is experiencing a severe shortage of Patriot missile defence systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been intensely lobbying Western allies for access to deeper US stockpiles and hundreds of additional interceptors. Also Read: 'Insult' to 4 crore people of Telangana: Why CM Revanth Reddy's US visit clearance was denied

Russia claims a Su-35 fighter jet struck a US-made Patriot air defence system in Odesa with a Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile from around 125 km away.

Russia claims Su-35 struck US-made Patriot system with Kh-31PM missile from 125 km away

The US Defense Department has signed a framework deal with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to increase the production capacity of components for the Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD missile interceptor systems, it said on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pentagon negotiators have pressed contractors to ⁠move much faster with tentative production agreements struck earlier this year to increase missile output as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine strain US weapons stockpiles.&nbsp;Multiple reports in the media have said that the US military’s weapons stockpiles have run low because of the wars in Ukraine and Iran.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-admin-creating-incubators-to-develop-tech-to-counter-drone-terror-attacks-1785695702777">Trump admin creating ‘incubators’ to develop tech to counter drone terror attacks</a>&nbsp;Ukraine has been chronically run low on supplies of Patriots, the only weapon in its arsenal that can down ballistic missiles.&nbsp;The US defense department said in its statement that the framework deal would allow production of Patriots to triple and THAAD systems to quadruple.&nbsp;It said ⁠the deal would establish a second source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors and ramp up ⁠output of ignition safety devices.&nbsp;It follows a deal last week when the US Army ⁠awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/madrasas-shouldn-t-exist-they-produce-jihadists-taslima-nasreen-wants-bangladesh-to-be-secular-nation-1785687296945">‘Madrasas shouldn’t exist, they produce jihadists’: Taslima Nasreen wants Bangladesh to be secular nation</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman said that it has signed two multi-year framework agreements totalling over $3 billion to further power the arsenal of freedom. Working alongside the US Department of War and Lockheed Martin, the company is increasing production and accelerating delivery of critical munitions technologies and reinforcing the nation’s integrated air and missile defense.&nbsp;Northrop Grumman will accelerate production of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) to meet the increasing global demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-eroded-india-s-faith-bit-by-bit-indian-envoy-defends-putting-indus-waters-treaty-in-abeyance-1785679387240">‘Pakistan eroded India's faith bit by bit’: Indian envoy defends putting Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;The company will supply essential components, including solid rocket motors and ignition safety devices, supporting the integrated air and missile defense.It will also significantly increase monthly deliveries of THAAD components over seven years.&nbsp;The production surge will provide the speed, volume and precision required for integrated air and missile defense as global demand for the PAC-3 MSE system reaches unprecedented levels, said the company.

The US defense department said in its statement that the framework deal would allow production of Patriots to triple and THAAD systems to quadruple. It said ⁠the deal would establish a second source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors and ramp up ⁠output of ignition safety devices.

The US Defense Department has signed a framework deal with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to increase the production capacity of components for the Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD missile interceptor systems, it said on Monday. Pentagon negotiators have pressed contractors to ⁠move much faster with tentative production agreements struck earlier this year to increase missile output as conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine strain US weapons stockpiles. Multiple reports in the media have said that the US military’s weapons stockpiles have run low because of the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Also Read: Trump admin creating ‘incubators’ to develop tech to counter drone terror attacks Ukraine has been chronically run low on supplies of Patriots, the only weapon in its arsenal that can down ballistic missiles. The US defense department said in its statement that the framework deal would allow production of Patriots to triple and THAAD systems to quadruple. It said ⁠the deal would establish a second source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors and ramp up ⁠output of ignition safety devices. It follows a deal last week when the US Army ⁠awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles. Also Read: ‘Madrasas shouldn’t exist, they produce jihadists’: Taslima Nasreen wants Bangladesh to be secular nation Meanwhile, aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman said that it has signed two multi-year framework agreements totalling over $3 billion to further power the arsenal of freedom. Working alongside the US Department of War and Lockheed Martin, the company is increasing production and accelerating delivery of critical munitions technologies and reinforcing the nation’s integrated air and missile defense. Northrop Grumman will accelerate production of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) to meet the increasing global demand. Also Read: ‘Pakistan eroded India's faith bit by bit’: Indian envoy defends putting Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance The company will supply essential components, including solid rocket motors and ignition safety devices, supporting the integrated air and missile defense. It will also significantly increase monthly deliveries of THAAD components over seven years. The production surge will provide the speed, volume and precision required for integrated air and missile defense as global demand for the PAC-3 MSE system reaches unprecedented levels, said the company.

The US defense department said in its statement that the framework deal would allow production of Patriots to triple and THAAD systems to quadruple. It said ⁠the deal would establish a second source for PAC-3 solid rocket motors and ramp up ⁠output of ignition safety devices.

US signs deal to boost production of Patriot, THAAD missile interceptor systems

Russia has launched one of its largest missile attacks on Kyiv, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens as the war in Ukraine intensifies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed calls for additional Patriot air defense systems, warning that Ukraine urgently needs stronger protection against Russian ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Ukraine claims it struck Russian oil refineries deep inside Russian territory and targeted shipping routes in the Black Sea, while Moscow says it intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones. As fighting escalates, the United States says it is exploring ways to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia Pounds Kyiv With Massive Missile Barrage | Ukraine Pleads For Patriot Missiles |War Escalates

US President Donald Trump has said his administration has not yet decided whether it will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, tempering expectations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Washington had agreed to grant production licences.In an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday (Jul 30), Trump said the proposal remains under consideration, stressing that the US is cautious about sharing advanced military technology.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-to-manufacture-patriot-systems-zelensky-says-trump-gave-green-light-1785306048030">Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems? Zelensky says Trump gave green light</a><h2>Trump 'not sure' about giving Ukraine Patriot technology</h2>"I'm not sure. We're looking at it," Trump said when asked whether Ukraine would receive a licence to produce Patriot missiles. "It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to. We don't really licence equipment."His remarks come just two days after hosting Zelensky at the White House, where the Ukrainian leader described the talks as productive and said Patriot missile production had featured prominently in their discussions.Following the meeting, Zelensky said Trump had accepted Kyiv's request for production licences and revealed he had also met executives from companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot system."I hope that we will do co-production. This is very important," the Ukrainian president said, describing domestic production of interceptors as one of Ukraine's top defence priorities.<h2>Why do Patriot missiles matter for Kyiv?</h2>The Patriot air defence system has become central to Ukraine's efforts to defend its cities from Russian ballistic missile attacks. Kyiv has repeatedly appealed for additional batteries and interceptors as Moscow intensifies long-range strikes across the country.Trump's latest comments appear more cautious than his remarks at the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month, when he indicated Washington was prepared to let Ukraine manufacture Patriot missiles under licence.The system's interceptor missiles are produced by US defence contractors Lockheed Martin and RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/very-unimpactful-trump-downplays-russian-support-for-iran-promises-to-ask-putin-about-zelensky-s-claims-1785200335134">'Very unimpactful': Trump downplays Russian support for Iran, promises to 'ask Putin' about Zelensky's claims</a><h2>We want peace, not missiles: Trump</h2>Despite the uncertainty over the Patriot proposal, Trump insisted his primary objective remains ending the war rather than expanding weapons production."Very simply put, we want the war in Ukraine with Russia ended," he told the newspaper. "I'm not looking for missiles. We're looking for peace." The US president also said his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are expected to visit Ukraine in the coming days as part of Washington's diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Days after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump has said Washington has not yet decided whether to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. Here's all you need to know about the “will he, won’t he” situation. 

US President Donald Trump has said his administration has not yet decided whether it will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, tempering expectations after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Washington had agreed to grant production licences. In an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday (Jul 30), Trump said the proposal remains under consideration, stressing that the US is cautious about sharing advanced military technology. Also read | Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems? Zelensky says Trump gave green light Trump 'not sure' about giving Ukraine Patriot technology "I'm not sure. We're looking at it," Trump said when asked whether Ukraine would receive a licence to produce Patriot missiles. "It's a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to. We don't really licence equipment." His remarks come just two days after hosting Zelensky at the White House, where the Ukrainian leader described the talks as productive and said Patriot missile production had featured prominently in their discussions. Following the meeting, Zelensky said Trump had accepted Kyiv's request for production licences and revealed he had also met executives from companies involved in manufacturing the Patriot system. "I hope that we will do co-production. This is very important," the Ukrainian president said, describing domestic production of interceptors as one of Ukraine's top defence priorities. Why do Patriot missiles matter for Kyiv? The Patriot air defence system has become central to Ukraine's efforts to defend its cities from Russian ballistic missile attacks. Kyiv has repeatedly appealed for additional batteries and interceptors as Moscow intensifies long-range strikes across the country. Trump's latest comments appear more cautious than his remarks at the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month, when he indicated Washington was prepared to let Ukraine manufacture Patriot missiles under licence. The system's interceptor missiles are produced by US defence contractors Lockheed Martin and RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies. Also read | 'Very unimpactful': Trump downplays Russian support for Iran, promises to 'ask Putin' about Zelensky's claims We want peace, not missiles: Trump Despite the uncertainty over the Patriot proposal, Trump insisted his primary objective remains ending the war rather than expanding weapons production. "Very simply put, we want the war in Ukraine with Russia ended," he told the newspaper. "I'm not looking for missiles. We're looking for peace." The US president also said his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are expected to visit Ukraine in the coming days as part of Washington's diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Days after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump has said Washington has not yet decided whether to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. Here's all you need to know about the “will he, won’t he” situation.&nbsp;

'Not sure': Trump pours cold water on Ukraine's Patriot missile dream after Zelensky's claim

&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Jul 28) said US President Donald Trump had agreed to grant Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missile systems, marking a potentially significant step in Kyiv's efforts to strengthen its domestic defence industry.Speaking to Fox News after meeting Trump at the White House, Zelensky said the agreement built on discussions the two leaders had begun earlier this month during the NATO summit in Ankara. "We began it in Ankara to give Ukraine licences for the production of Patriots," Zelensky said. "This is important, because we need more and quicker."He added that Trump had accepted the proposal during Tuesday's meeting. "Today, we had a very good meeting with President Trump. He accepted that he will give us licences," Zelensky said.Posting photographs from the meeting, Trump also said that it "went very well!" while noting that "Many things were discussed".<h2>Joint production discussed</h2>Zelensky said he later met executives from major US defence companies to explore the possibility of jointly producing Patriot systems. "I hope that we will do co-production. This is very important," he said.Ahead of the White House meeting, the Ukrainian president had told reporters at the US Capitol that Ukraine's most urgent military requirement remained protection against Russian ballistic missile attacks."The real problem is anti-ballistic systems and anti-ballistic missiles," he said. "Of course, I shared what we need... I shared it with the president today."<h2>Air defence remains Kyiv's top priority</h2>Ukraine has repeatedly sought additional Patriot missile systems as Russia has stepped up the use of ballistic missiles and long-range drone attacks.According to the United Nations, last month was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, with Russian missile strikes causing heavy casualties across the country.A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv's immediate priority is securing approval to acquire additional Patriot interceptors while also expanding domestic production capacity through licensed manufacturing.The White House meeting came as fighting intensified once again, with Ukraine launching hundreds of drones into Russia while Moscow continued overnight drone attacks and strikes on Ukrainian cities and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said US President Donald Trump has agreed to grant Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missile systems, a move aimed at strengthening Kyiv's domestic defence production as Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (Jul 28) said US President Donald Trump had agreed to grant Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missile systems, marking a potentially significant step in Kyiv's efforts to strengthen its domestic defence industry. Speaking to Fox News after meeting Trump at the White House, Zelensky said the agreement built on discussions the two leaders had begun earlier this month during the NATO summit in Ankara. "We began it in Ankara to give Ukraine licences for the production of Patriots," Zelensky said. "This is important, because we need more and quicker." He added that Trump had accepted the proposal during Tuesday's meeting. "Today, we had a very good meeting with President Trump. He accepted that he will give us licences," Zelensky said. Posting photographs from the meeting, Trump also said that it "went very well!" while noting that "Many things were discussed". Joint production discussed Zelensky said he later met executives from major US defence companies to explore the possibility of jointly producing Patriot systems. "I hope that we will do co-production. This is very important," he said. Ahead of the White House meeting, the Ukrainian president had told reporters at the US Capitol that Ukraine's most urgent military requirement remained protection against Russian ballistic missile attacks. "The real problem is anti-ballistic systems and anti-ballistic missiles," he said. "Of course, I shared what we need... I shared it with the president today." Air defence remains Kyiv's top priority Ukraine has repeatedly sought additional Patriot missile systems as Russia has stepped up the use of ballistic missiles and long-range drone attacks. According to the United Nations, last month was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, with Russian missile strikes causing heavy casualties across the country. A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv's immediate priority is securing approval to acquire additional Patriot interceptors while also expanding domestic production capacity through licensed manufacturing. The White House meeting came as fighting intensified once again, with Ukraine launching hundreds of drones into Russia while Moscow continued overnight drone attacks and strikes on Ukrainian cities and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said US President Donald Trump has agreed to grant Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot air defence missile systems, a move aimed at strengthening Kyiv's domestic defence production as Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks.

Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems? Zelensky says Trump gave green light

US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Turkey, said that the US will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriot air defence system. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, Trump said they will be discussing “the right to make Patriots”, referring to the long‑range air defence missiles.&nbsp;He also said that “We’ll show them how to do it,” suggesting that it was “very complex” but that Ukraine would be able to figure it out quickly. He added that the US industries were building “four plants” and added that “all of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months”, comparing it with the lengthy delivery time of the long-range missile defence systems.This comes after months of lobbying from Kyiv to acquire the production license from Washington. "I asked the previous administration, I am asking today's administration, give Ukraine licenses," said Zelensky back in May while pitching the idea to the US. “We will increase the production of Patriot missiles. It will be very helpful for us, it will be very helpful for the Middle East, for everybody whom the United States will decide to help.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-angora-cats-lokum-ak-kiz-nato-summit-ankara-1783515010934">WATCH | Turkish Angora cats steal the spotlight at NATO summit in Ankara</a>Trump also blabbed a lot. He called Iran the “Islamic Republic of Japan” while referring to Zelenskyy as “President Putin”.Sitting next to Zelensky, Trump continued his quips at Zelensky, "You have two kids in a park, and they don't like each other, and they start fighting. Sometimes you have to let them fight. Let them see that it's tough. Fighting is tough." He then added that he has developed a good relationship with Ukraine. He claimed that Ukraine has a great future. "Such a beautiful land. Such great assets. Such wonderful people.”Trump expressed his understanding of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing sympathy for the state, “It's been tough on Russia.” He claimed that Putin is feeling the pressure, and he also wants the war to end. He supported the Ukrainian strike on Russian oil infrastructure, suggesting that these strikes could end the war. He said that both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin want to see a settlement to end the war, following a highly successful NATO meeting. “He wants to see a settlement. And I think President Putin wants to see a settlement, and usually that means a settlement,” &nbsp;said Trump. &nbsp;“This is, this is a tough one, but I just, you know, we just had our NATO meeting, and it was a great meeting.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">NOW - Trump to grant Ukraine a license and teach them how to make Patriot Missiles. <a href="https://t.co/FCWdwCus6p">pic.twitter.com/FCWdwCus6p</a>&mdash; Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://x.com/disclosetv/status/2074843092763451826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump said the US will grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, as he met Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Turkey, said that the US will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture the Patriot air defence system. Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, Trump said they will be discussing “the right to make Patriots”, referring to the long‑range air defence missiles. He also said that “We’ll show them how to do it,” suggesting that it was “very complex” but that Ukraine would be able to figure it out quickly. He added that the US industries were building “four plants” and added that “all of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months”, comparing it with the lengthy delivery time of the long-range missile defence systems. This comes after months of lobbying from Kyiv to acquire the production license from Washington. "I asked the previous administration, I am asking today's administration, give Ukraine licenses," said Zelensky back in May while pitching the idea to the US. “We will increase the production of Patriot missiles. It will be very helpful for us, it will be very helpful for the Middle East, for everybody whom the United States will decide to help.” Also Read: WATCH | Turkish Angora cats steal the spotlight at NATO summit in Ankara Trump also blabbed a lot. He called Iran the “Islamic Republic of Japan” while referring to Zelenskyy as “President Putin”. Sitting next to Zelensky, Trump continued his quips at Zelensky, "You have two kids in a park, and they don't like each other, and they start fighting. Sometimes you have to let them fight. Let them see that it's tough. Fighting is tough." He then added that he has developed a good relationship with Ukraine. He claimed that Ukraine has a great future. "Such a beautiful land. Such great assets. Such wonderful people.” Trump expressed his understanding of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing sympathy for the state, “It's been tough on Russia.” He claimed that Putin is feeling the pressure, and he also wants the war to end. He supported the Ukrainian strike on Russian oil infrastructure, suggesting that these strikes could end the war. He said that both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin want to see a settlement to end the war, following a highly successful NATO meeting. “He wants to see a settlement. And I think President Putin wants to see a settlement, and usually that means a settlement,” said Trump. “This is, this is a tough one, but I just, you know, we just had our NATO meeting, and it was a great meeting.”

Donald Trump said the US will grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, as he met Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

Big win for Zelensky? Trump announces Patriot production license for Ukraine

The Patriot air defence system costs billions to acquire due to its advanced radar and $4 million interceptor missiles. It provides unmatched protection against fast ballistic threats.

The Patriot air defence system costs billions to acquire due to its advanced radar and $4 million interceptor missiles. It provides unmatched protection against fast ballistic threats.

'Patriot missile': Why countries spend billions just to get this defense system

The United States has approved more than $8.6 billion in arms sales to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, invoking emergency powers to bypass congressional review.

The United States has approved more than $8.6 billion in arms sales to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, invoking emergency powers to bypass congressional review.

Patriot, APKWS precision rockets & IBCS network: Inside $8.6 billion US arms sales to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait & UAE

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere, providing a high-altitude layer of missile defence.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere, providing a high-altitude layer of missile defence.

'50% of stockpile depleted': What are US THAAD missiles, what makes them so rare and critical?

The Pentagon has announced that about 90-100 Ukrainian troops will head to Oklahoma's Fort Sill as soon as next week to begin training on the Patriot missile defense system.

Ukrainian troops to train on Patriot missile system in U.S.