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US defense industry
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- 1Trump gives Ukraine license to make Patriot missiles, Zelensky says▼Donald Trump gives Ukraine license to manufacture Patriot missiles, Volodymyr Zelensky says
President Donald Trump has granted Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missiles domestically, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The announcement, reported by the Jerusalem Post, would mark a significant step in Ukraine's push to produce advanced air defense systems at home as it faces continued Russian missile and drone attacks. The move is being read as a major boost to Ukraine's defense industry and air defense capacity.
- 2US Falls Behind on Memory Chips as Tariffs Add Pressure●America Is Behind on Memory Chips—and Tariffs Threaten to Make Things Harder
The United States lags badly in memory chip production, an area dominated by Asian manufacturers, and new tariffs threaten to worsen the situation. With semiconductors central to AI, defense and consumer electronics, analysts warn that trade barriers could raise costs and slow efforts to build domestic capacity at exactly the moment Washington is trying to catch up.
- 3US investigates F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong●US investigates after F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong
US authorities are investigating how components for the F-35 fighter jet ended up diverted to Hong Kong, prompting concern in Congress over the possible exposure of sensitive military technology to China. Lawmakers are demanding answers about supply-chain controls and export safeguards, and the case has reignited debate over defense-industry oversight and US-China technology restrictions.
- 4The Specialized Screws Holding Up Missile and Plane Production●This Screw Is Needed for Missiles and Planes. Buying One Can Take Years. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/business/bal
A New York Times report examines ball screws, precision components essential to missiles and aircraft, whose purchase can take years due to limited domestic manufacturing capacity. The piece highlights how this obscure bottleneck constrains American defense production, prompting discussion about industrial base weakness and supply chain fragility as demand for weapons manufacturing grows.