Ukraine, Raytheon to co produce Patriot interceptors

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 23 that Ukraine and the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon have agreed to jointly produce Patriot interceptor missiles, a critical step in bolstering the country's air defenses against ongoing Russian attacks. The announcement followed a meeting in Kyiv between Zelensky and a Raytheon delegation led by company Vice President Joseph DeAntona.

Zelensky stated that the partnership would elevate existing defense cooperation, with Ukraine co-producing what he described as some of the most vital air defense assets. He noted that the prospect of joint production had been discussed previously with U.S. President Donald Trump during talks at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, held on July 7-8. According to Zelensky, discussions with Raytheon also covered other areas of partnership involving non-offensive military equipment. He added that government and private sector teams from both sides would remain in contact to finalize the arrangements.

The move aims to address a critical shortage in Ukraine's arsenal. The Patriot system is the most advanced Western-made air defense platform in Ukrainian service and the only one currently...