A Patriot missile assigned to the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade fires at McGregor Range, N.M., May 11, 2024. U.S. officials have approved a $5 billion sale of up to 600 Patriot missiles to Germany. (David Rincon/U.S. Army)
BERLIN — The U.S. has approved the sale of hundreds of interceptor missiles for Germany’s Patriot batteries after the country sent several of the powerful air defense systems to Ukraine.
The $5 billion sale includes up to 600 missiles made by Lockheed Martin as well as supporting equipment and training, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Congress still needs to sign off on the deal.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the agency said in a statement Thursday.
Germany has so far transferred three of its Patriot systems — a quarter of its stockpile — to Ukraine, which faces relentless bombardment from Russian forces.
Berlin is also at the forefront of calling on other nations to contribute to Ukraine’s air defense, as some European countries show reluctance to part with their Patriots in the face of an aggressive Russia.
“If Germany can provide three and this still means a quarter of all systems of this type that we have, then others will certainly be able to give another one,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the German press agency DPA in June.
The NATO alliance announced last month that it would send at least four Patriot systems to Ukraine but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country still needs more.
A Patriot missile launcher is displayed Aug. 1, 2024, during a change of command ceremony for the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Sembach, Germany. U.S. officials have approved the $5 billion sale of the advanced interceptor missiles and support equipment to Germany. (Alexander Watkins/U.S. Army)
The Patriot, one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, contains a radar system and launchers that fire missiles at incoming projectiles or aircraft.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Germany will easily absorb the latest generation missiles into its armed forces and the pending sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
It also won’t have an adverse impact on U.S. readiness or require assignment of additional American personnel to Germany, the agency said.
The U.S. has sent two Patriot systems to Ukraine. The latest came from Poland, where it was guarding a rotational force of American troops headed home.
