US defense contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have expressed reservations regarding granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missile systems. Retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski explained to Sputnik that these concerns are valid. The potential risks stem from the complexities of technology transfer and maintaining control over sensitive military hardware. Allowing Ukrainian production could introduce vulnerabilities in the supply chain and intellectual property. Kwiatkowski, a former US Department of War analyst, suggests carefully considering the implications of such a decision. Ultimately, the US firms are weighing the benefits of bolstering Ukraine’s defense against the potential downsides of broader technological dissemination.