Anti-ballistic missiles for the Patriot air defense system could begin being produced in Ukraine within weeks, Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
Speaking to the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland would play a key role in the project, adding that the transfer of Patriot-related technology to Ukraine could not take place without Warsaw’s participation.
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“Poland is one of four NATO countries, alongside Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, that has been granted the status of a country to which technologies related to the production and servicing of Patriot missiles can be transferred,” he said.
According to the minister, preparations for joint production of PAC-3 interceptor missiles could take only a few weeks, with Poland ready to begin work immediately.
He acknowledged that manufacturing the missiles would be challenging, noting that even the United States faces shortages of Patriot interceptors because of growing global demand.
“That is why this must be done very quickly. We are determined. Poland is ready to immediately begin servicing and take further steps,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
The announcement follows remarks by US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, where he said Washington plans to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot systems.
“I’ve got a little bird telling me that we’re going to give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to make them,” Trump said during a joint news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Calling the Patriot system “elite equipment,” Trump added that the arrangement would allow Ukraine to produce the systems itself.
“One of the things we’re going to be talking about is we’re going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That’s pretty cool, right? This way you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough. It’s a make-them-yourself,” he said.
Kyiv’s dire need for Patriots
Trump’s latest remarks follow two deadly Russian attacks on Kyiv within days, including one on July 6, during which none of the 29 incoming Russian ballistic missiles were intercepted.
Zelensky has appealed for more Patriot missiles for months, saying that the interceptors – one of the few in Kyiv’s arsenal capable of shooting down high-speed Russian missiles – are in critical shortage.
Recent deliveries of the missiles to Kyiv have been scarce, with some shipments containing as few as five missiles per batch.
Global stockpiles have remained limited amid surging demand in recent years, with production unable to keep pace with consumption in Ukraine and Iran.
Currently, PAC-3 Patriot missiles – the most advanced and sought-after model – are produced only in the US and under license in Japan. Germany, meanwhile, manufactures older PAC-2 variants domestically, with some scheduled for delivery to Ukraine from 2027 under a €4 billion ($4.7 billion) deal signed in April.
Kyiv has hinted at ongoing projects to explore alternatives to Patriots amid the constant shortage, including the Freya – an air defense system under development with Germany, France, and Norway.
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