Sweden joins European coalition to purchase 1000 Patriot missiles

16 November, 2024 A launcher of the Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missile system. Photo credits: Swedish Ministry of Defense Sweden has joined the European coalition to purchase 1000 missiles for the Patriot air defense system.

This was reported by the official website of the Swedish Ministry of Defense. As part of the agreement signed between the Defense Procurement Agency and NATO, Sweden joins a coalition of countries that are financing the purchase of thousands of Patriot GEM-T missiles. In addition to Sweden, this coalition includes Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain, which co-finance the purchase of the anti-aircraft missiles.

Launch of the MIM-104 anti-aircraft missile.

Photo credits: U.S. Army

In total, Sweden will provide funding in the amount of USD 5.4 billion, which will be used for these purchases as part of the overall initiative to strengthen European air defense. According to the Swedish Ministry of Defense, the joint procurement significantly reduces the cost of acquisition and will also strengthen the European defense industry, as the production of components, and in the future, missiles as a whole, will be carried out in Europe.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, production facilities for these missiles were deployed in Europe, in addition to the United States and Japan. In particular, the missiles are manufactured in Germany, and individual components are manufactured in Romania and Spain. It is worth noting that the Patriot missile system is currently used by eight European countries and is being considered for purchase by the Swiss government, which is in the final stages of concluding a contract for the purchase of these systems.

The launcher of the Patriot SAM system of the German army, 2023.

Photo credits: German Air Force

Some European countries are modernizing their own systems to bring them up to the PAC-3 MSE level. This will significantly expand the ability to protect territories from cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft of various types. Earlier, Militarnyi reported that Raytheon had received a contract worth £478 million to supply GEM-T missiles to the German Patriot air defense system.

The contract was reportedly signed with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), and the missiles are intended to replenish German stocks after the transfer of the anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Defense has placed an order for the purchase of modern PAC-3MSE missiles for Patriot air defense systems.