The United States is concerned about transferring Patriot technology to Ukraine because it could potentially fall into Russia’s hands

US President Donald Trump abandoned the idea of transferring Patriot missile production technology to Ukraine because it could end up in Russia. The Telegraph reports this, citing sources, according to UNN. 

Details

As the publication recalls, in July, during the NATO summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the United States would grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles; however, as the publication notes, "since then he has backed away from his promise".

His change of position was prompted by an intensifying dispute over whether this technology should be transferred, as aides and experts fear it could fall into Russian hands

In particular, this concerns the PAC-3 Ka-Band Active Radar Seeker technology—a radar manufactured by Boeing in Alabama. It is located in the nose of a Patriot missile, determines the target's location in the final seconds of flight, and directs the interceptor into a direct collision with a ballistic or cruise missile.

Denying Ukraine access to this technology could have fatal consequences. Russia is preparing for another winter campaign of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure, while Zelenskyy's stockpiles of Patriot systems are running out

The Pentagon also understands that obtaining approval is only the first obstacle in the lengthy process of granting Kyiv the necessary authority regarding Patriot missiles. 

Michael Kadenacci, Deputy Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, said that the most difficult task would be finding and certifying an entirely new supply chain.

There aren't that many engineers who know how to do this. The number of qualified parts already available is also limited. Since you are building a new supply chain… finding qualified suppliers takes time

In addition, as the publication points out, although 20 countries purchase and operate the Patriot system, the United States closely guards the technical documentation required for its production and rarely allows production abroad. Germany and Japan are the only countries that have licenses for domestic production.

Granting Ukraine permission for domestic production would require transferring not only equipment, but also blueprints, software, and the expert knowledge necessary to assemble this complex weapon

We remind you

Ukraine may find a way to produce Patriot missiles more cheaply and quickly than the United States. American manufacturers fear that Kyiv will improve the Patriot and mass-produce it at a lower cost.