A group of NATO allies are to jointly acquire up to 1000 patriot surface to air missiles. (RTX)
BELFAST — NATO’s procurement arm will help a group of European allies to acquire hundreds of Patriot surface-to-air missiles, a $5.5 billion purchase set to the backdrop of Ukraine’s use of the US-made air defense system against Russian targets.
NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) said on Wednesday that it “will support” an alliance coalition including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain to buy the weapons, after awarding the contract to COMLOG, a joint venture between US giant RTX (formerly Raytheon) and MBDA Germany.
If all options are exercised under the contract, the European nations will buy a combined total of 1,000 Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T), according to a RTX company statement, also issued Wednesday.
GEM-T serves as a “complement” to the Patriot Advanced Capability -3 (PAC-3) missile and is designed to defeat tactical ballistic, cruise missiles or adversary aircraft, states RTX company literature. Specifically, a low noise front end of the GEM-T offers “increased seeker sensitivity for better acquisition and tracking.”
Capabilities aside, RTX added that the COMLOG contract also covers “updated components, addition of new suppliers, test equipment, and spares,” though a delivery timeline was not shared.
COMLOG will “expand production” of GEM-T missiles in Europe, explained RTX. NATO shared that the deal will lead to a Patriot production facility in Germany being established.
When the US decided to send Patriots to Ukraine in December 2022, the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said in an analysis that the move was based on a need to support Kyiv against Russian missile attacks, demonstrate political solidarity and “because the United States has few other air defenses to send.”
European Patriot operators Germany and the Netherlands have since followed in the footsteps of the US Department of Defense by supplying the air defense equipment to Kyiv. Ukraine also operates Soviet-era S-300 surface to air missile systems against Russia. Additionally, The US and Norway have provided Kyiv with National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), while Germany has also supplied IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) missiles.
Despite this arsenal of ground based weapon systems, Russia has coordinated a new airstrike campaign since the end of December and into the new year that has predominately targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv.
Writing on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia, starting on December 29, had launched 300 missiles and 200 Shahed drones against Ukraine, in the space of a “few days.”
He praised the efforts of his armed forces in countering the Russian airstrike campaign.
“Prior to Ukraine, no country in the world had ever successfully repulsed such combined attacks with the use of drones and missiles, including air-launched ballistic missiles,” added Zelensky. He also claimed that 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles had been shot down during fighting on Tuesday.