US agrees to sell most powerful Patriot missiles to Germany

The US State Department has approved the sale of the latest version of the Patriot missile to Germany in a deal worth an estimated $5 billion, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on August 15.

The foreign military sale includes 600 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles built by Lockheed Martin, according to the DSCA announcement.

DSCA also notified the US Congress on August 15 about the potential deal so that the agency can decide whether to approve the deal or not.

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally, a vital force for political and economic stability in Europe," DSCA said in a statement. "It will support Germany's goal of improving its defense and territorial integrity and interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces."

Lockheed Martin's Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) guided missile is designed to intercept aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Photo: Breaking Defense

Germany has invested heavily in its Patriot air and missile defense systems this year as Berlin considers sending additional Patriot batteries and interceptor missiles to Ukraine to support the Eastern European country in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The Patriot system has "shone" in the Ukrainian battlefield, thereby attracting more potential customers from all over the world. Germany is a country that has operated Patriot batteries for a long time. The Western European country has donated three systems to Ukraine since 2022.

In March, Germany placed an order for Patriot systems made by RTX (formerly Raytheon) worth $1.2 billion, and in July ordered other components for the system worth another $1.2 billion. Combined, the two contracts will give RTX eight complete Patriot batteries.

RTX also received a $478 million contract from NATO earlier this month to supplement Patriot GEM-T missiles, the type Germany has sent to Ukraine.

The Patriot air defense system can be used against enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges of up to 100 km and at altitudes of 30 km.

Patriot batteries serve as the primary air defense system in 19 countries, 15 of which operate the PAC-3 MSE – the most powerful variant in the Patriot missile family.

Lockheed Martin has been fully funded to build 550 missiles per year to replace the PAC-3 MSE missiles that were sent to Ukraine.

The US defense giant built 350 missiles a year in 2018 and had increased production to 500 missiles a year before the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022.

The company is also making internal investments to increase production to 650 PAC-3 MSE missiles per year by 2027 at its Camden, Arkansas manufacturing facility.

Minh Duc (According to Defense News, DW)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/my-dong-y-ban-bien-the-loi-hai-nhat-cua-ten-lua-patriot-cho-duc-20424081611385535.htm