A licensing dispute may expose a deeper concern than technology security, as Ukraine’s rapidly expanding defense sector draws attention from Washington.
American arms manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin fear that, after obtaining a license, Ukraine could improve interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, establish their mass production, and reduce their cost.
Publicly, the companies explain their unwillingness to transfer the license by citing the risks of intellectual property theft and the unauthorized dissemination of technology. At the same time, according to a Republican representative on Capitol Hill, the real reason may be fears of future competition.
Why the US Is in No Hurry to Transfer Patriot Technology
American defense companies suspect that Ukrainian engineers could not only replicate existing solutions but also make them more effective and cheaper. Ukraine could then move to large-scale missile production, competing with manufacturing lines in the United States.
Volodymyr Zelensky raised the issue of a license to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot systems during his meeting with Donald Trump at the White House on July 28. The Ukrainian side also asked for “several hundred” missiles from US stockpiles to be transferred urgently.
Donald Trump refused to transfer the missiles, citing limited US stockpiles and the priority needs of American troops in the Middle East. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, over the previous six months, the United States had used approximately two-thirds of its Patriot system stockpiles in the war against Iran.
Two days after meeting with the Ukrainian president, Trump called Patriot an “extraordinary weapon” and said that the US “must be careful about whom it grants a license to.”
Ukraine’s Defense Industry Is Growing Stronger
Even if Washington agrees to licensing, launching large-scale production of Patriot missiles would take several years. In the long term, Ukraine could produce additional missiles not only for its own needs but also for the United States or its allies.
It is precisely the potential of Ukraine’s defense industry, which is developing rapidly amid the full-scale war, that may be causing concern among American manufacturers. Analysts note that Ukraine is gradually reducing its dependence on direct military aid.
Ukraine currently produces around 10 million drones a year, while the figure in the United States is approximately 100,000.
On August 8, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had reached an agreement with the United States on the monthly supply of missiles for Patriot systems. At the same time, he said, the quantity is insufficient for the needs of Ukraine’s air defense.