Ukrainian defense industry is reaching a new level of autonomy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially confirmed that the country will gain the ability to independently produce missiles for key air defense systems within the next few years. Agreements on technology transfer and licensing have been reached with several Western partners.
Patriot License: Political Decision Made
One of the main points of discussion was the production of surface-to-air missiles for the legendary Patriot air defense system. Zelenskyy stated that a political agreement with partners has already been reached, and active work is now underway on the technical and legal aspects.
"We are working on Patriot licenses. We had a political agreement. We expect to receive the technical ability for the Ukrainian team to produce our missiles, American missiles, with our own forces by the end of 2026," the head of state emphasized.
This information confirms data that previously appeared in the media: in early July, during a meeting in Turkey, former US President Donald Trump told Zelenskyy that Washington is ready to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles on its territory.
Cooperation with France and Italy: SAMP/T and SCALP
In addition to American technologies, Kyiv is developing deep cooperation with European countries. A separate agreement was reached with the European Union, specifically with France and Italy, which are providing permissions for the production of missiles for the SAMP/T system.
According to Zelenskyy's statement, the French side has already given consent, and Italian partners have supported the corresponding decisions. The focus is on SCALP and Aster-30 missiles, which play a critical role in intercepting enemy cruise missiles.
Prospects: SAMP/T NG and Guided Bombs
The discussion also touched upon future systems. Regarding the newest SAMP/T NG next-generation anti-ballistic missile complexes, Zelenskyy noted that it is premature to talk about localizing production for them, as Ukraine is still awaiting the delivery of the systems themselves. Nevertheless, the plan to obtain permission for the production of missiles for them is also scheduled by the end of 2026.
Additionally, it became known about a positive decision regarding the license for the production of AASM Hammer guided air bombs. The French side provided a positive conclusion, which will allow Ukrainian aircraft manufacturers to independently equip their aviation with high-precision weapons.
Earlier, the President of Ukraine announced that France would transfer two SAMP/T complexes already this year, and the delivery of Aster 30 missiles would be accelerated by October. Now these deliveries are supplemented by the prospect of a full production cycle in Ukraine.
