Patriot Missile Shortage? Lockheed, RTX Not Told of Fix

Ukraine’s NATO ambassador celebrated a summit breakthrough, claiming Washington had solved the country’s critical shortage of Patriot missile systems. However, analysts tracking the defense industry noticed a glaring problem: the two companies that build the Patriots—Lockheed Martin and RTX—had not been informed of any new production orders or delivery plans. The contradiction raises questions about whether the supply gap is truly closed or if the announcement was premature. Without confirmation from the manufacturers, experts say Ukraine’s air defenses remain vulnerable to Russian missile strikes.