Due to the further increase in Russian air strikes against Ukraine, the Federal Government has decided to further strengthen Ukrainian air defense. In addition to the air defense systems already delivered and still planned, another fire unit Patriot will be handed over at the request of the Ukrainian government and in coordination with the allies. The Federal Ministry of Defense announced this today.
So far, the Air Force has delivered two fire units with spare parts and two additional launchers. Patriot has proven itself in the fight against Russian aggression and, alongside the IRIS-T SLM and SkyNex systems as well as the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, plays an essential role in the defense of Ukrainian infrastructure and the country's population centers, according to the ministry. Further deliveries of Patriot, IRIS T and SkyNex systems as well as Gepard anti-aircraft tanks are planned for this and the coming years.
The handover from Bundeswehr stocks should be initiated “immediately”. The delivery is possible through returns from planned repairs.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said:“Russian terror against Ukrainian cities and the country's infrastructure is causing untold suffering. It endangers people's energy supplies and destroys the industrial facilities that are important for the operational readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces. We are therefore supporting Ukraine with another PATRIOT fire unit. With our support for Ukraine, we are going as far as we can in view of our own operational readiness. Before making this decision, I was committed to procuring a new one as quickly as possible and we are working hard on the replacement.”
liho