Poland plans to launch the production of missiles for the Patriot air defence system because wartime conditions make building the complexes in Ukraine almost impossible.
Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk confirmed the country's manufacturing plans in an interview with the Polskie Radio 24 broadcaster.
The Patriot system is an advanced surface-to-air missile complex used by the United States and allied nations to intercept incoming aircraft and ballistic threats.
Tomczyk said an agreement to build a service centre for Patriot missiles in Poland had already been signed. He described the maintenance facility as an intermediate stage on the path to launching full production.
He said Poland was currently experiencing a favourable moment to advance the plans, relying on its diplomatic and military contacts with the United States.
Tomczyk added that United States President Donald Trump had dropped the idea of producing the missiles in Ukraine, or placed a large question mark over the proposal, following his initial comments on the matter.
Building such systems in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict was almost impossible, Tomczyk said. He said he thought the situation presented great opportunities for Poland's defence industry.
Missile transfer requests
Poland has not yet made a decision on transferring additional Patriot missiles from its own military reserves to Ukraine.
Tomczyk said the country had already transferred a few such missiles to Kyiv out of a national stockpile of hundreds of units.
He said any decision on transferring further missiles had to be made at the highest levels of government. The Minister of National Defence submits recommendations on military aid before the Council of Ministers makes a final decision.
The United States is urging Poland to provide the missiles, with appeals coming from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Alexus Grynkewich.
International supply efforts
Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles unmanned aerial systems battalion of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, previously said Ukraine's chances of receiving Patriot missiles from Japan were increasing.
He said the shift followed a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the disputed Kuril Islands.
Japan is one of a small number of countries holding a licence to manufacture the Patriot system. The complexes are defensive weapons, providing legal grounds for Japan to transfer anti-ballistic equipment to Ukraine despite the country's peace constitution.
Japan's post-World War Two constitution formally renounces war and limits the country to self-defence forces.
Fedorenko said Ukraine was also relying on Japanese support to establish its own domestic Patriot production.
A columnist for The Guardian previously reported that Ukraine was unlikely to receive a sufficient number of interceptors before the winter, even if allied nations transferred additional missiles from their own stocks.
