Netherlands leads initiative to deliver Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine as soon as possible

28 May, 2024 Patriot air defense system launcher of the Netherlands. Photo credits: NATO media library The Netherlands leads a new initiative to deliver the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as soon as possible.

The government is also calling on other European countries to contribute to the joint transfer of SAMs. The Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands reported on this. Within this initiative, the Netherlands is providing the main components from its stockpile and encouraging other countries with Patriot systems to add other components of the system.

The Netherlands has also identified which countries could potentially provide components and anti-aircraft missiles from their stockpiles.

??????? ????????? Patriot ?
/p
p8 ???????????? ????? PAC-3 (?????) ?? ?? ???? ?
/p
p4 ???????????? ????? PAC-2 (GEM)

A Patriot launcher with 8 PAC-3 missiles (left) and another with 4 PAC-2 (GEM) missiles. Photo from open sources

Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren called on these countries to join the project.

"We are negotiating with countries to assemble the Patriot system and train Ukrainian crews. With our offer, and if other potential partner countries can provide parts and ammunition, we will be able to provide Ukraine with at least one complete system in the short term," she said. The Netherlands wants another Patriot air defense system to be deployed in Ukraine as soon as possible.

In May, Bloomberg reported that the United States planned to provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system to support European efforts to provide Ukraine with a sufficient number of air defense systems. It is currently unclear when this air defense system will be transferred, and there have been no official statements on this matter. It is worth noting that the Patriot has the ability to intercept air and ballistic targets.

IDF soldiers next to the launcher of the "German" Patriot PAC-2 air defense system.

Photo credits: Israel Defense Forces

In early May, citizens of Israel appealed to their government officials to transfer the decommissioned Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine to protect it from Russian strikes.