Following a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington on 14/7, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that the two countries will decide on transferring additional Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine "in the next few days or weeks".
Pistorius said Germany has offered to purchase Patriot systems from the US for Ukraine. Working-level talks will finalize the deal's details, including the number of launchers and missiles. After the agreement is signed, Germany could deliver the first Patriot system to Ukraine "within a few months".
Pistorius also mentioned Germany's offer to buy Typhon anti-ship missile launchers from the US, with a future decision on whether to order them. He sees this as a potential short-term solution while European countries develop land-based long-range weapons.
"We are working with the UK and other partners to develop land-based long-range missiles, but this process will take 7 to 10 years. This is why we need an interim solution," he said.
 |
A Patriot launcher at an exhibition at Katterbach Air Base in Ansbach, Germany, in August 2019. Photo: US Army |
A Patriot launcher at an exhibition at Katterbach Air Base in Ansbach, Germany, in August 2019. Photo: US Army
The meeting also addressed the ongoing review of US forces worldwide, which might lead to troop reductions in Europe. The US military currently has around 80,000 troops deployed in Europe, including about 40,000 stationed in Germany.
Several European allies have urged the US to ensure coordination in any troop withdrawals to avoid capability gaps, which they believe would leave NATO members vulnerable.
Pistorius said Hegseth agreed on a transparent approach and coordination with allies in case of a US troop withdrawal from Europe.
The Patriot system is the most expensive weapon the US and its allies have provided to Ukraine. Each system costs nearly 1.1 billion USD, with missiles costing 690 million USD and other components about 400 million USD. Ukraine's Patriot systems are equipped with the most advanced US-made PAC-3 MSE missiles, which have a maximum range of 120 km against aircraft and 60 km against ballistic missiles.
In May, US media, citing unnamed officials, reported that Ukraine has at least eight Patriot systems, six operational and two under repair. Ukraine has repeatedly praised the Patriot's effectiveness, highlighting it as the only weapon capable of countering Russia's Kinzhal hypersonic and Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles.
However, the Patriot's interception rate in Ukraine is declining due to dwindling missile and launcher supplies, with several batteries also reportedly attacked and destroyed by Russia. Colonel Yuri Ignat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, admitted that Russia is constantly upgrading its Iskander-M ballistic missiles, making the Patriot system "less effective than desired".
Nguyen Tien (Reuters, AP, AFP)
