Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on 14/4 that he and German defense minister Boris Pistorius agreed on a $4,7 billion defense package. This initiative aims to bolster air defense, advance long-range strike capabilities, and foster joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
The meeting occurred while Minister Fedorov accompanied Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on a visit to Germany, during which he stated the two countries signed three significant agreements.
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Defense minister Fedorov (left) and his counterpart Pistorius in Berlin on 14/4. *Photo: AP* |
Germany will fund a contract for hundreds of patriot missiles, which will enhance the protection of Ukraine's cities and critical infrastructure, Fedorov stated. This package also includes the transfer of 36 IRIS-T air defense missile launchers to reinforce the air defense system. The German defense ministry confirmed it would order patriot missiles for Ukraine from the US defense group Raytheon, as well as IRIS-T launchers from domestic manufacturer Diehl. The delivery timeline for these armaments remains undisclosed.
Beyond air defense, Fedorov stated that Germany and Ukraine also agreed to invest $300 million to develop long-range strike capabilities, helping Kyiv expand its weapons production. Within the framework of the "Build with Ukraine" initiative, a joint production project for medium-range drones using AI technology is commencing. The Ukrainian official added that the military will receive 5.000 drones in giai doan 1.
Fedorov emphasized that the purpose of this cooperation is to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities and European security. During a joint press conference with chancellor Friedrich Merz on the same day, president Zelensky stated that Ukraine had proposed to Germany "a bilateral agreement centered on drones, missiles, software, and modern air defense systems." Chancellor Merz noted that this cooperation effort benefits both sides, including Germany's security, because "no army in Europe has seen as much combat as Ukraine in recent decades."
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A model of the PAC-3 CRI missile at Hamamatsu air base in Japan in 2019. *Photo: Wikimedia* |
Germany has become Ukraine's largest military supporter, as US assistance decreased after president Donald Trump took office. Berlin is also seeking to leverage Kyiv's experience in drone technology to enhance its military capabilities to deter Moscow.
The conflict in the Middle East provided an opportunity for Ukraine to showcase its drone capabilities. President Zelensky sent military experts to the Middle East and visited countries targeted by Iran. He revealed on 10/4 that Ukrainian military experts had shot down several Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukraine has long faced a shortage of missiles for its patriot air defense systems. A Ukrainian patriot unit commander recently revealed that they currently fire one missile to counter each Russian missile, instead of 2-4 as per standard air defense doctrine.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Ukrainska Pravda, Business Insider)
