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Following approval by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag, the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has concluded a contract with Raytheon for the delivery of four Patriot air defense systems. Conversion kits for the Patriot radars are also being purchased. A total of almost 1.4 billion euros will be made available for this. Deliveries are expected to take place by 2029.

Nach Angaben des BMVg werden zwei Systeme als Ersatz für Abgaben an die Ukraine beschafft. Daher erfolge die Finanzierung je zur Hälfte aus dem Sondervermögen und dem regulären Verteidigungshaushalt (Einzelplan 14). Beschaffungen als Ersatz für Abgaben an die Ukraine müssen in diesem Jahr aus dem Sondervermögen finanziert werden und nicht, wie sonst üblich, aus der Ertüchtigungsinitiative der Bundesregierung im Einzelplan 60.

The Bundeswehr is receiving four new state-of-the-art Patriot air defense systems. (Photo: Bundeswehr Lars Koch)

The BMVg describes Patriot as a mobile air defense system for missile defense in the lower interception layer. It offers protection against aircraft and missiles with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and has been in use since 1989. Patriot should remain the most important system for the Bundeswehr's ground-based air defense capabilities well beyond 2030. In December, the Budget Committee approved the procurement of 500 guided missiles with spare parts for the anti-aircraft missile system.

Patriot is one of the most modern air defense systems in the world, writes the BAAINBw. The weapon system is currently used by eight European countries to defend against enemy cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and enemy drones and aircraft. At a distance of around 100 kilometers and up to altitudes of 30 kilometers, the defense missiles can hit targets in an imaginary dome around the position - depending on the guided missile used.

“Not only will the material handed over to Ukraine be replaced in the shortest possible time, the new PATRIOT systems are part of the latest version of the proven air and missile defense system,” emphasizes the responsible project manager at BAAINBw. It took less than ten months from the receipt of the offer in the BAAINBw to the parliamentary approval to the signing of the contract.

According to the BAAINBw, a fire unit consists of a command post, the launching devices for firing the PATRIOT guided missiles as well as the radar devices and other material. The components are currently integrated into off-road 8×8 trucks. With the new purchase, semi-trailers will be used for the first time.

Editorial staff / gwh

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