Why the US resists Ukraine's Patriot production?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that partners from the United States have agreed to grant them the licence. US President Donald Trump responded with uncertainty to that claim, saying that “it is a very unique weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful about who we give a licence to.” While the talks between the parties are still ongoing, more reasons for the resistant US position begin to surface.

Patriot, being a unique and efficient weapon, is a great asset for the US, and Washington cannot afford to lose that kind of domestically made export product. That is most likely why, according to The Atlantic, US defence companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin fear that Ukraine could improve Patriot interceptor missiles and produce them faster and at a significantly lower cost if they were given a licence.

A Republican official on Capitol Hill told The Atlantic that the real reason for the resistance is fear of competition. US manufacturers fear that “the Ukrainians will find a way to improve the Patriot and then produce them at scale faster and for much less money than what the existing production lines in the US could do.”

Knowing the lobbying power of American weapon manufacturers, Ukraine may need to wait much longer for the Patriot licence. And even if it were to receive it, the establishment of large-scale production would take years. In the long term, however, the investment would most certainly pay for itself and generate a surplus for Kyiv and its allies. According to The Atlantic, Ukraine’s defence industry capacity has grown significantly, and the country itself is less and less dependent on foreign aid. As of now, Ukraine produces around 10 million drones a year, compared to 100,000 made in the US.