Media: Patriot manufacturers skeptical of granting Ukraine a production license
US companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are reportedly skeptical about licensing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles themselves, fearing cheaper and faster competition, The Atlantic reports.
The Atlantic magazine reports that there is cautious sentiment within the US defense industry regarding the idea of allowing Ukraine to manufacture its own Patriot air defense missiles.
Several outlets have cited the publication's report, according to which the two largest US arms manufacturers — Raytheon and Lockheed Martin — have voiced concerns about the potential consequences of such a step.
Concerns over competition
The companies' main worry is reportedly that if Ukraine obtained a production license, it could manufacture the missiles considerably faster and in larger quantities than current American producers. In addition, Kyiv's production costs could end up being significantly lower.
This would mean Ukraine could theoretically become a competitor to its current missile suppliers on the global market, rather than remaining simply a buyer.
Context
Patriot systems are among the key air defense tools Western countries have supplied to Ukraine to help it fend off Russian missile and drone attacks. The question of building domestic production capacity in Ukraine is relevant given the scale of future supply needs and the long-term demand for such weapons.
It remains unclear whether and in what form such a license might be granted, or how the US government will respond to the manufacturers' concerns.
