EU may wait years to substitute Patriots given to Ukraine
(MENAFN) Some European Union nations that are supplying US-made Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine could face a wait of up to seven years—or even until 2032—for replacement units due to a major production backlog, a senior NATO official has revealed.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has repeatedly called for more Patriot systems and missiles, with each system potentially costing around $1 billion and each interceptor missile up to $4 million. The US has proposed a deal under which European countries send their Patriots to Ukraine and receive replacements from Washington in return.
However, French Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, told Euractiv that replacement deliveries could take about seven years. A second NATO source offered a slightly more optimistic timeline, saying the wait could still be at least “a couple of years.”
This extended delay has led to anxiety among some EU nations. One anonymous diplomat called the idea of handing over Patriot systems “scary,” even while acknowledging Ukraine’s role in defending Europe.
Germany has recently agreed to send three Patriot batteries to Ukraine but is reportedly demanding firm assurances that US replacements will be delivered within eight months.
Meanwhile, the US policy of prioritizing NATO allies for Patriot resupply has already affected non-NATO customers. Switzerland, which ordered five systems in 2022 with an expected delivery by 2028, has now been informed of indefinite delays due to shifting US priorities.
Russia has strongly criticized Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, arguing they only serve to prolong the war without altering its ultimate outcome. Moscow has also accused NATO of aggressive militarization and using Russia as a scapegoat to justify increased defense spending.
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