Why is NATO ready to spend $5.5 billion to buy these American missiles?

2024-01-04 16:54:29

Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Romania signed a contract to acquire up to 1,000 Patriot missiles, announced NATO in a press release published Wednesday January 3. The order amount is estimated at $5.5 billion and includes the supply of spare parts and equipment maintenance.

Patriot missiles are American technology. They are usually built by the Raytheon firm, specialized in defense and used by the American army, some Asian countries and by “eight European nations to defend against cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and enemy air threats”according to the Atlantic Alliance.

Des missiles Patriot made in Europe

This contract should make it possible to increase the production of these missiles in Europe. Indeed, the NSPA, the NATO agency in charge of acquisitions and support for the armed forces, has awarded the production of these missiles to Germany, as part of a joint venture between the German firm MBDA, European leader in missile design, and the American Raytheon.

“Europe will produce 1,000 Patriot missiles itself. This demonstrates that European cooperation allows for concrete successes”declared Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, the signatory country of the contract.

We will support a coalition of @NATO nations, including ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????, with a contract to @MBDAGermany and @RaytheonTech (COMLOG) for #Patriot™ Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T)

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— NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) (@NSPA_NATO) January 3, 2024

Ensuring the security of Ukraine and Europe

While Russian bombings have recently intensified on Ukrainian territory, this announcement is good news for NATO. “I salute [cette] timely announcement from allies”said the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg. “Increasing our ammunition production is essential for Ukraine’s security and for ours”, he clarified. Stockpiles of Patriot missiles in the United States and Germany have declined significantly due to arms deliveries to Ukraine. Consequently, Washington had to seek help from other countries, notably Japan, to replenish them.

“The contract supports European states using Patriot, creates jobs in Germany and strengthens the ammunition supply chain”, summarized the general director of the German firm MBDA, Thomas Gottschild, following NATO’s announcement. This order “strengthens NATO air defense missile inventory”, “consolidates deterrence” of the Atlantic Alliance and guarantees “Patriot air defense system” operational in Europe, said for his part, the president of the American Raytheon, Thomas Laliberty.