Germany orders Patriot air and missile defense systems from US for $1.2 billion

Europe, News, US July 15, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. defense manufacturer Raytheon, an RTX business, received a $1.2 billion contract from Germany to supply additional Patriot air and missile defense systems. The latest contract marks the second Patriot order from Germany in 2024.

According to the Raytheon statement, the advanced Patriot systems will strengthen Germany’s existing air defense infrastructure with additional Patriot major end items. “Patriot is the foundation of air defense for 19 countries, including Germany, the U.S., and Ukraine, and it continues to demonstrate its effectiveness against the most advanced and complex threats,” it added.

President of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, Tom Laliberty said, “Patriot remains the tried-and-true stalwart of air and missile defense, relied upon by our global customers to deter aggression and defend their interests. With each additional Patriot system, Germany is enhancing its own air defenses and strengthening NATO’s defense posture.”

Earlier in March German military’s budget committee approved the purchase of additional Patriot systems. Under the contract, Raytheon would provide the latest Patriot Configuration 3+ systems to Germany, which consist of radars, launchers, command and control stations, along with the associated spares and support services.

Germany has also been stockpiling the guided missiles in its arsenal. The German military’s budget includes the acquisition of 500 guided missiles and their accompanying spare parts for the systems.

Germany is playing a critical role in supporting NATO Allies and partners. In May 2024, Germany deployed its Patriot air defense systems to Finland and integrated the Patriot firing unit with a Finnish brigade during exercise Mallet Strike 24-1. During the exercise, the German Patriot firing unit conducted a combined integrated operation with Finnish forces. Germany has also been providing Ukraine with advanced weapon systems. Ukraine received its first U.S.-made Patriot missile systems through Germany.

*^{U.S. Army Patriot Missile Systems during a military training exercise. (Image Credit: U.S. Army)}*

PATRIOT System

The Patriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target), is engineered as a mobile air defense solution with the capability to counter a spectrum of threats spanning up to 1,000 kilometers. The Patriot Configuration 3+ air defense system is the latest iteration of preceding Patriot missile systems, specifically tailored for intercepting diverse threats like aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

Comprising various components such as interceptor missiles, launch stations, radar sets, control stations, and power generation units, the Patriot system ensures comprehensive defense coverage. The system can fire PAC-2 and PAC-3 variants interceptor missiles, with the latter boasting hit-to-kill technology for precise neutralization of threats, thereby expanding the protected area.

With its proven track record and continuous advancements, the Patriot missile system remains a pivotal asset in safeguarding nations against aerial threats on the modern battlefield. Each Patriot battery has four to eight launchers designed for four missiles each. One Patriot missile costs about $4 million while the launching setup costs around $10 million.