Zelenskyy says Ukraine is talking with Raytheon about co-producing Patriot interceptors.
Why it matters: A local production deal could strengthen Ukraine's air defenses as Russian missile attacks continue. It would also deepen industrial ties between Kyiv and a major U.S. defense contractor.
- Zelenskyy met a Raytheon delegation in Kyiv on July 23, 2026.
- The delegation was led by Raytheon Vice President Joseph DeAntona.
- Zelenskyy said Raytheon was ready to jointly produce Patriot interceptors with Ukraine.
- AP said the talks came less than three weeks after Trump said he would give Ukraine a license to produce Patriots.
Ukraine is seeking a deeper industrial partnership with Raytheon as it tries to harden its air defenses against repeated Russian ballistic-missile strikes. Zelenskyy said after the July 23 meeting in Kyiv that the company was ready to take the partnership to a higher level and co-produce Patriot interceptors with Ukraine.
“Our teams - both at the government level and from the private sector - will stay in close touch to work it out,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted by the Ukrainian presidency. He also said he was grateful for Raytheon’s readiness to expand cooperation on “some of the most vital air defense assets - Patriot interceptors.” Read the presidency's statement.
The meeting came amid a broader push by Kyiv to secure license-based or localized Patriot production. The Ukrainian government has publicly pressed for that since at least early July 2026, and Ukraine’s defense ministry said it had already held talks with Raytheon in April about advancing air-defense capabilities. See the defense ministry's April statement.
AP reported that the discussion followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump less than three weeks earlier that he would give Ukraine a license to produce Patriots. The report said experts and Kyiv officials have warned that setting up production in Ukraine could take years. It also noted that the proposed local production would focus on Patriot interceptors, not necessarily the full Patriot system. Read AP's report.
No deal has been announced yet. The location, timeline, licensing structure and any U.S. government role remain unclear.
By the numbers
- July 23, 2026 - Date Zelenskyy met the Raytheon delegation in Kyiv.
- Less than 3 weeks - Time between Trump's reported license comments and the Raytheon meeting.
- April 2026 - When Ukraine's defense ministry previously held talks with Raytheon.
Yes, but: No signed agreement has been announced, and it is unclear whether any manufacturing would occur inside Ukraine.
What's next: Ukraine's government and private-sector teams will remain in close contact to work out the arrangement.