PNN – In a report noting that some weapons supplied to Ukraine by Western nations have ended up on the black market; The Telegraph stated that Washington’s concern over Russia potentially gaining access to advanced Patriot missile technology is the primary obstacle to granting Ukraine authorization to manufacture these missiles.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; The Telegraph added that U.S. President Donald Trump—who had previously promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Ankara, that he would authorize the Ukrainian production of Patriot missiles—has since reneged on that pledge.
The report adds that during a cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump stated that transferring this type of technology is difficult, as the recipients could one day turn against you.
According to the report, Trump’s change of heart stems from growing disagreement among aides and experts concerned about Russia gaining access to this critical technology.
The Telegraph report goes on to note that the U.S. government is aware of the history of Western-supplied weapons to Ukraine ending up on the European black market, adding that Washington’s primary concern regarding the theft of advanced technology used in Patriot interceptor missiles centers on a sensitive component known as the “PAC-3 Ka-Band active radar seeker,” which is manufactured by Boeing in Alabama.
The report adds that this radar—which serves as the eyes and ears of the Patriot interceptor missile—is so advanced that the White House has restricted its export even to its closest allies, driven by fears that if the technology were transferred to Ukraine, it might somehow fall into Russian hands.
The Telegraph report further notes that Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are concerned the Ukrainians might find a way to improve the Patriot system and subsequently manufacture it on a larger scale, more rapidly, and at a fraction of the cost compared to existing U.S. production lines.
At the end of its report, The Telegraph addresses the issue of where Patriot missiles might be manufactured in Ukraine, noting that even if authorization is granted, the missiles would likely be produced in Germany or another European country, as a manufacturing site within Ukraine would be a prime target for Russian attacks.
Reuters had previously reported, citing informed sources that despite Donald Trump’s pledge to authorize the production of Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine due to the ongoing war, these systems would not be manufactured on Ukrainian soil; instead, a production line would likely be established in Germany or another European country.