Bundeswehr gets more patriots

The Bundeswehr is procuring a total of four new PATRIOT air defense missile systems. A corresponding contract was signed yesterday at the Bundeswehr Procurement Office with the manufacturer Raytheon. Prior to this, the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the project. The purchase of these weapon systems partly serves the replacement of the fire units transferred to Ukraine.

"Not only will the material transferred to Ukraine be replaced in the shortest possible time, the new PATRIOT systems are part of the latest version of the proven air and missile defense system," emphasizes the responsible project manager at the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr, abbreviated as BAAINBw. Less than ten months were needed from the receipt of the offer at BAAINBw, through parliamentary approval, to signing the contract.

Each of the fire units consists of a command post, launchers for firing the PATRIOT missiles, as well as radar systems and other equipment. The contract includes, in addition to other support services, the corresponding spare parts.

PATRIOT, the short designation for "Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target," is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world. The weapon system is currently used by eight European countries to defend against enemy cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, as well as hostile drones and aircraft. At a distance of approximately 100 kilometers and up to heights of 30 kilometers, the defense missiles can hit targets within an imaginary dome around the position - depending on the type of missile used.