Ukraine will deploy the second Patriot air defense system delivered by Germany this year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday, bringing the total number of Patriots in the country to three.
Additional military equipment Scholz promised includes armored vehicles, ammunition, winter protective clothing, and power generators.
“All of this is urgently needed. Because Russia has now put its economy entirely at the service of this war. Russian weapons production is running at full speed,” Aussiedlerbote quoted him as saying.
Third Patriot in Ukraine
The system was promised in October to Ukraine and has since been delivered, German Aid to Ukraine — a private project keeping track of German aid supplies to Ukraine — revealed on Wednesday.
The Raytheon/Lockheed Martin system consists of a fire control station, a radar unit, eight launchers, and around 60 missiles, the project wrote, adding that the Ukrainian personnel that will operate the system wrapped up training early this month.
Two Patriot systems are currently operational in Ukraine: one delivered by Germany and another by the US.
$1.1B ‘Winter Aid Package’
Additional air defense systems delivered by Germany to Ukraine include three IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defense systems and 49 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
The latest Patriot system is part of a 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) “winter aid package” for Ukraine, including two IRIS-Ts, 10 more Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks, three Gepard anti-aircraft guns, armored trucks, and ambulances.