NATO announces plan to help members buy 1,000 Patriot missiles
(Baonghean.vn) - NATO has announced plans to help Germany and several other member states purchase up to 1,000 Patriot missiles to strengthen European air defenses, as Russia steps up airstrikes on Ukrainian cities.
The Western military bloc’s Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) revealed the new deal on January 3, saying it would support the purchase of missiles by a coalition including Germany, Romania, the Netherlands and Spain. The deal would spur European production of the US-designed Patriot missile, helping NATO members replenish their arsenals as they continue to provide weapons to Ukraine, NSPA said.
“This investment demonstrates the strength of transatlantic defense cooperation and NATO’s commitment to keeping our people safe,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “Increasing ammunition production is key to Ukraine’s security and our own.”
The NATO-backed alliance has awarded a $5.5 billion contract to COMLOG, a joint venture between US defense contractor Raytheon and Germany’s MBDA, to build the new missile. NSPA added that the large scale of the combined order would underpin the establishment of a new Patriot production line in Germany. NATO did not provide specific details on the progress of the new production facility or the delivery of the new missiles.
MBDA said the deal would total 1,000 missiles if all members of the alliance exercise their purchase options. “This order strengthens our industrial and military capabilities in Europe,” MBDA CEO Thomas Gottschild said in a statement. “The volume of the order allows MBDA to establish Patriot missile production in Germany and produce critical subcomponents.”
Russia has recently launched missile and drone attacks on military-industrial targets in the Kiev region and other Ukrainian cities. Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this week that Moscow's airstrikes would be accelerated in retaliation for Ukraine's attack on the Russian city of Belgorod.
However, Mr Putin noted that unlike Kiev's "terrorist" attacks on civilians, Russia's strikes would target Ukraine's infrastructure and military assets.
Ukraine has requested additional Patriot missiles, despite the US air defense system being unable to shoot down Russia's Kh-22 and Kh-32 supersonic cruise missiles. Kiev has used Western-supplied Patriot systems to attack targets on Russian territory, contrary to its commitment to deploy them for defensive purposes in Ukraine.
Russian officials have repeatedly warned that Western arms deliveries will only prolong the war in Ukraine and lead to more casualties without changing the outcome of the conflict./.
