Politics Germany wants to buy US Patriot systems for Ukraine
The German government wants to buy Patriot air defense systems from the USA in order to make them available to Ukraine for the defensive campaign against Russia.
10.07.2025, 15:28
SDA
"I spoke about this with President Trump last Thursday and also asked him to deliver these systems," said Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Rome. The defense ministers of both countries are currently negotiating this, but no final decision has yet been made.
"The Americans need some of them themselves, but they also have a lot of them," said Merz about the Patriots, which are also used by the Bundeswehr - the German armed forces. However, he did not say how many systems Germany wants to buy. According to reports, it will initially be two systems. Ukraine is currently being subjected to massive air strikes by Russia. Germany has already supported Ukraine on a large scale with air defense systems of various types.
Patriot can hit targets 100 kilometers away
Patriot ("Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target") is one of the most modern air defense systems in the world. It is used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. The defensive missiles can hit targets at a distance of around 100 kilometers and at altitudes of up to 30 kilometers in an imaginary bell around the position - depending on the missile used.
The mobile launch station resembles a large truck and contains up to four launch containers. According to the US military, a total of up to 16 defense missiles can be loaded depending on the configuration. According to the US think tank CSIS, the defensive missiles of the widely used Pac-3 version cost around four million dollars each.
