US President Donald Trump’s suggestion on Wednesday that he would allow Ukraine to build its own Patriot interceptors won’t be easy or quick, Bloomberg reports, writes UNN.
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Production of Patriot missiles by Lockheed Martin Corp. in Ukraine, especially on a large scale, as the publication notes, "will be a challenging task." How challenging it will be depends on which type of missile the new production line will manufacture. The PAC-3 variant, which can intercept ballistic missiles and costs about $5 million each, is one of the most advanced air defense weapons in the world and is currently produced in only two locations: the United States and Japan.
"Building a Patriot missile takes years, which means Ukrainian production of these missiles will not be realized in the necessary near term," said Becca Wasser, head of defense at Bloomberg Economics. "Furthermore, Ukraine's ability to quickly produce drones and missiles may not extend to Patriot production, given strict US technology controls."
"Supply chains for current production are already strained, and opening a new line will also require specialized equipment and training—both of which will add time to the project," the publication states.
In recent days, the publication writes, Ukraine has stated that its armed forces have been unable to shoot down any Russian ballistic missiles amid Moscow's attacks on major cities. This, it notes, underscores the acute need for more Patriot missiles, which Kyiv has typically relied on to counter such threats. NATO allies have warned that their stockpiles are limited.
The publication suggests that Trump's production proposal may mean that new deliveries of actual missiles are unlikely.
"So you can't complain that we're not giving you enough," Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We haven't informed the company about this yet, but everything will be fine."
Some components, such as the missile body, would be relatively easy to make from an industrial standpoint. Solid-rocket motors of the right energy and consistent quality would be much tougher, as would the small steering motors of the PAC-3, which enable it to maneuver effectively in the thin upper atmosphere, and the guidance system that controls them. Few if any of the parts could come off the shelf, the publication writes.
The PAC-3’s seeker, which steers the missile in the final moments of its flight before it hits a target, is made by Boeing Co. for both the US-based and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries production lines. Boeing declined to comment. Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"Any new weapons production plant in Ukraine would become a priority target for Russian attacks," the publication notes.
"If I were doing this, I would have the Ukrainians build a plant in Poland," said William Alberque, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum who works in Europe. "Otherwise, it will be a primary target. They will never be able to build it."
This week, the Polish government signed an agreement for the maintenance of PAC-3 missiles from European countries at a facility in Poland.
Production of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot may be launched in Poland near Ukraine27.05.26, 05:00
The US is rushing to increase production of Patriot missiles after hundreds were used during the war with Iran. But Lockheed has said it will take until 2030 to triple production.
"Production is already constrained by existing bottlenecks in the supply chain," said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center. "Even if Ukraine builds a production plant, it will still need to develop a network of suppliers. This is a significant challenge for the defense industrial base."