Media: Germany is considering the purchase of additional Patriot air defense systems

20 April, 2024 Illustrative photo of a Patriot PAC 2 missile launch. Photo from open sources The German government is looking at buying four additional Patriot missile-defense systems on top of the four ordered in March.

Bloomberg reported on this with reference to its own sources. The purchase of additional SAMs may cost about £1.3 billion. The plans are at an early stage and officials are still assessing how to finance the expanded order.

A spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense refused to comment on specific procurement projects and only noted the government's desire to better equip the armed forces.

Patriot air defense system of the German armed forces. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany

In March, the German Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the American RTX (Raytheon) to purchase additional Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. The total value of the signed contract is over £1.2 billion.

The agreement includes the supply of launchers, radars, command posts, associated spares, and support. The order is placed on the latest version of the air defense system in the PAC-3MSE version, which will qualitatively complement the fleet of German PAC-2 systems. Thus, in case of purchasing 4 additional Patriot air defense systems, the total cost of purchasing new air defense systems of this type for Germany will be approximately EUR2.6 billion.

It should be noted that Germany plans to produce more than 500 PAC-2 anti-aircraft missiles under license from Raytheon at MBDA Germany in Schrobenhausen.

The Ukrainian servicemen master the Patriot air defense system in Germany. February 2023. Photo credits: Federal Ministry of Defence

Germany will acquire additional Patriot SAM systems that will cover this gap, which was created due to the transfer of air defense systems to Ukraine from the German Air Forces.

Militarnyi reported that on April 13, the German government had decided to urgently strengthen Ukraine's air defense and immediately transfer the third Patriot air defense system.