The U.S. government has authorized the potential sale of Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles to the German Armed Forces, marking an investment of over $5 billion intended to replenish the missiles donated to Ukraine and enhance Germany’s defensive capabilities. This was communicated by the Department of State through its notification to the U.S. Congress on August 15.
Specifically, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that Germany has requested the purchase of a package of 600 Patriot PAC-3 missiles, as well as the necessary technical and logistical support materials for their operation, including user manuals, spare parts, tools, transportation, quality control support, and MSE conversion kits, among other related items.
The DSCA stated: “This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is a key force for political and economic stability in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Germany’s ability to address current and future threats and increase the defensive capabilities of its military. It will support Germany’s goal of enhancing national and territorial defense, as well as interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. Germany will have no difficulty integrating this equipment into its armed forces.”
The primary contractor will be Lockheed Martin, based in Texas, which is expected to negotiate a series of industrial compensation agreements with Germany for the operation. According to the DSCA, no additional representatives from the company or the U.S. government will be required for the delivery.
Finally, regarding Germany’s need to replace the air defense systems donated to Ukraine, it is worth noting that the Bundestag approved the purchase of four new Patriot batteries in March to create a defense network consisting of fourteen systems in total; before the donation, Germany had about twelve systems. Additionally, the country has recently advanced with the purchase of Patriot GEM-T (PAC-2) missiles, which was done with financial support from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) under a $478 million contract.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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