Ukraine, Raytheon Discuss Joint Patriot Interceptor Production

Ukraine signaled its next critical step in strengthening its air defense industry: jointly producing Patriot interceptors with Raytheon – the only system in Ukraine’s arsenal currently capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the cooperation proposal after meeting a Raytheon delegation led by company Vice President Joseph DeAntona, saying that Ukraine had long used Raytheon equipment to protect civilians from Russian attacks.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“I am grateful for the company’s readiness to take our partnership to an even higher level, with Ukraine jointly producing some of the most important air defense systems with Raytheon: interceptors for Patriot systems,” Zelensky said.However, he did not provide a specific timeline for launching production or disclose further details about the proposed arrangement.Proposal following Trump talks in AnkaraZelensky noted that the meeting came after the prospect of joint production was previously discussed with US President Donald Trump during NATO summit talks in Ankara, Turkey on July 7-8.“During the meeting, we also discussed other areas of partnership involving non-offensive military equipment,” Zelensky said, adding that “now is the time to move forward in this direction.”According to him, representatives from the Ukrainian government, Raytheon and the private sector will remain in close contact to finalize the proposals.Lockheed Martin unveils PAC-3 ACE, a cheaper Patriot interceptor versionAs global demand surges and Ukraine continues to face critical shortages of ballistic missile defenses, Lockheed Martin introduced a new Patriot interceptor the PAC-3 ACE, designed to deter air and missile threats at less than half the cost of the PAC-3 MSE. Other Topics of Interest US Influencer Loomer Attacks Putin for Bombing 11th-Century Ukrainian Religious Edifice Loomer used to say Ukraine is a country run by Nazis and that morally superior and Christian Russia has every right to destroy it. The Trump ally has reversed her point of view. The company announced the decision on Monday, July 20, with initial production of PAC-3 ACE expected to start within 36 months. Current PAC-3 interceptors, the most advanced and sought-after model, cost roughly $4 million per missile, and are produced only in the US and under license in Japan. Meanwhile, Germany 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. In early June, Lockheed Martin announced that it cannot guarantee specific delivery timelines for the PAC-3 interceptors, even as it expands annual production from roughly 650 missiles to 2,000 by 2033 under a $4.7 billion Pentagon contract. Zelensky is urging allies for deliveries as Patriots remain scarce, while Russia increasingly strikes Ukraine with ballistic missiles nationwide.Within the first 19 days of July, Russia already exceeded its estimated monthly ballistic missile production, while also expending at least two-thirds of its planned annual output of 3M22 Zircon missiles. According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), Moscow plans to manufacture only 30 Zircon missiles in 2026, meaning the 20 fired so far this month account for about two-thirds of the year’s planned production. During the latest NATO summit, Trump said that Washington would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture its own Patriot defense systems, while his administration confirmed that it is also discussing Kyiv’s ability to strike deeper inside Russia. Most recently, Poland’s defense minister said preparations to produce Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles in Ukraine could begin within weeks, with Warsaw playing a key role in transferring the necessary technology. However, the planned production is expected to begin in Germany. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.