Germany announced on Friday it will deliver two Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, following an agreement with the U.S. granting Berlin priority access to newer systems in exchange.
Thanks to the U.S. commitment, “Germany can initially support Ukraine with launchers and then with additional Patriot system components,” said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in a statement.
The Bundeswehr army will initially deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by additional system components to be handed over in two or three months.
In return, Berlin will receive new Patriot systems, for which it is providing the funding, from the United States at an accelerated pace.
Ukraine’s needs for air defence have grown more urgent as Russia has intensified its nationwide aerial attacks this summer, and the Patriot systems have proven effective at destroying Russian ballistic missiles.
Germany has already delivered three of its Patriot systems to Ukraine and said on Friday that sending the additional systems will not affect its contribution to the NATO defence alliance.
Why Patriots Are Crucial For Ukraine?
Patriot air defence systems are advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) platforms developed by the United States to detect, track, and intercept incoming threats such as aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Known officially as the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target (PATRIOT), the system uses a combination of radar, command-and-control units, and multiple launchers to deliver high-precision strikes against aerial threats.
Its ability to intercept targets at long ranges and high altitudes makes it one of the most reliable air defence solutions globally.
For Ukraine, Patriot systems are critically important amid its ongoing war with Russia.
As Russian forces continue to launch missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure, energy grids, and military positions, Ukraine’s ability to shield its skies has become a top priority.
While Ukraine already employs various Western-supplied and Soviet-era systems, the Patriots provide a higher level of accuracy and longer-range protection — particularly against Russian ballistic missiles, which are difficult to intercept with older platforms.
Deploying Patriot systems strengthens Ukraine’s air defence network, safeguards critical infrastructure, and enhances its ability to maintain operational resilience in the face of persistent aerial threats from Russian forces.
(With inputs from Reuters)
