Ukraine calls for Japan support over licensed production of Patriot system

KYIV - Ukraine hopes to gain support from Japan as it looks to produce Patriot air defense systems under U.S. license, citing the expertise of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. that manufactures the interceptors for the Japanese defense forces, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.

"We maintain political dialogue" toward seeking cooperation from Japan, which is one of the few countries granted a license to build the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, Sergiy Kyslytsya, first deputy head of Ukraine's Office of the President, said in an interview with Kyodo News.