Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain have signed an agreement to purchase up to a thousand missiles for the Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex with improved guidance.
NATO countries are buying up to 1,000 Patriot missiles
NATO press officer Matthias Eichenlaub said that NATO allies are teaming up to buy up to 1,000 Patriot air defense missiles amid Russia's war against Ukraine.
Valued at $5.5 billion, this is one of the biggest-ever purchases in the history of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has announced that it will support a coalition of countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain with a contract for a total of up to 1,000 Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T).
The agency entered into a manufacturing and supply contract with COMLOG, a joint venture between Raytheon, RTX (NYSE: RTX) and MBDA. To ensure production and supply, COMLOG will expand production capacity for the production of GEM-T missiles in Europe.
Missile production will be located in southern Germany, where Patriot is already in service.
The Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren, noted that this new production line shows that international defense cooperation provides concrete successes.
In the near future, together with our European partners and industry, we will continue to look for ways to increase production capacity. Because of the war in Ukraine and the growing threat and conflict around the world, this is absolutely necessary.
What is known about the Patriot air defense system
Patriot air defense systems can be used to neutralise aircraft, helicopters, and high-speed ballistic and cruise missiles at long distances.
It is produced by the American defense contractor Raytheon Technologies.
Patriot systems have been sold to the armed forces of the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Taiwan, Greece, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Romania and Sweden.
On April 18, 2023, it was officially announced that the first complex would arrive in Ukraine.
In May 2023, the Patriot air defense system shot down the hypersonic Russian Kh-47 Kinzhal missile for the first time.
