ALBAWABA - U.S. arms manufacturers, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, fear that Ukraine could outcompete current U.S. production if given a license to create Patriot missiles.
The issue over the licensing of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine has gone back and forth for a while as President Trump could not settle on whether or not to grant Zelenskyy the license to build his own Patriot missiles and missile systems.
Now, it appears the reason for the President’s apprehension is that Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are nervous about Ukraine outpacing their production; by improving interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, establishing their mass production, and reducing their cost.
While the official reasoning is fears of intellectual property theft, one Republican on Capitol Hill says that arms manufacturers are avoiding future competition.
However, this is putting pressure on Ukraine which heavily relies on Patriot missiles to counter the majority of Russian attacks on its soil, with Zelenskyy raising the issue with Trump at their White House meeting on July 28.
The pressure is compounded by Trump’s then refusal to transfer additional missiles to Ukraine citing U.S. stock shortages; leaving Ukraine with little defense against Russian attacks and no way to produce its own missiles.
Over the previous six months, the U.S. had used two-thirds of its Patriot missile stockpiles in the war against Iran, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
On August 8, Zelenskyy said he had reached an agreement with U.S. President Trump on a monthly supply of Patriot missiles, adding, however, that the number remains insufficient for Ukraine’s needs in its war against Russia.
