Trump backtracks on giving Ukraine Patriot technology: Media reveals why
Photo: why Trump refused to transfer missile production technology to Ukraine (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump promised Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles, but reversed his position within weeks amid concerns that the technology could fall into the wrong hands, according to The Telegraph.
The promise that was not kept
In July, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump made an unexpected offer to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"We are going to give you a license to produce Patriot," Donald Trump said at the time.
After the Americans showed the Ukrainians the production technology, Trump said that Ukrainian factories could begin producing their own missiles "fairly quickly."
Why Trump changed his mind
Just a few weeks later, the US president changed his position. At a Cabinet meeting in Camp David, Maryland, he acknowledged that transferring such technology was difficult.
"It's hard to give away this kind of technology... The people you're giving this technology to could someday turn against you," Trump said.
The change in position came amid an internal debate within the administration over whether to transfer technology that, according to aides and experts, could end up in Russia's hands.
Photo: Patriot missile (screenshot)
The radar that everything depends on
At the heart of Kyiv's push to obtain Patriot is a small radar manufactured by Boeing at its plant in Alabama. The component is so advanced that the White House restricts its export even to some of its closest allies.
The device is known as the PAC-3 Ka-band active radar seeker. It serves as the interceptor's eyes and ears, detecting an incoming missile in the final moments of its flight and guiding the Patriot toward a direct hit.
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The missile's nose section is about 10 inches in diameter.
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The radar itself is approximately 8 inches across.
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According to Boeing, it did not miss a single missile during the 2003 US invasion of Iraq.
Why this is critically important for Ukraine
Russia is preparing for another winter campaign of missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukraine's stockpile of Patriot missiles has been depleted.
"Every air defense package saves the lives of our people. And every night when we don't have it leads to casualties," Zelenskyy said.
According to available information, Ukraine's chances of obtaining the 300 missiles it needs to defend the country this winter appear slim.
What is known about Patriot production licenses
It should be recalled that on August 7, Donald Trump said that the US itself needs Patriot missiles, explaining the ammunition shortage as a result of decisions made by the previous administration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the bureaucratic delays in issuing the licenses, noting that he had requested them in the first year of the war.
As RBC-Ukraine reported, US Patriot manufacturers are in no hurry to transfer the technology to Ukraine, fearing that Kyiv could produce missiles faster and more cheaply than the United States.
In addition, Britain's defense secretary called on allies to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses before winter, when the pressure on the air defense system could increase.
