Germany Buys 4 New Patriot Long-range Air Defense Missile System.

The German parliament has approved the purchase of four Patriot missile defense units. This is the second such contract this year, with the first one approved in March. The new acquisition also includes additional PAC-2 GEM-T and/or PAC-3 MSE missiles.
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The Patriot PAC-3 is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather missile defense system. (Picture source: US DoD)

Germany has thus approved the purchase of four new Patriot missile defense units, which include additional PAC-2 GEM-T and/or PAC-3 MSE missiles.

Before the full-scale war in Ukraine, Germany had 12 operational PAC-3 Patriot batteries, three of which were transferred to Ukraine. The new contract will slightly increase Germany’s defense capabilities compared to the pre-2022 level. The new batteries are expected to be in the standard PAC-3+ configuration, and the GEM-T missiles might be produced in Germany through a collaboration between MBDA Deutschland and Raytheon. However, sources differ on which specific missiles Germany has decided to purchase.

In the 1990s, Germany had up to 36 operational Patriot batteries in older configurations. Of these, 24 were financed by the United States and provided under a 1983 agreement. Germany agreed to supply the crews and operational support for the U.S.-provided Patriots and protect selected U.S. bases with Roland's short-range systems. Eventually, all the Patriots provided by the Americans became the property of Germany. Berlin then transferred most of these older PAC-2+ systems to other countries, including South Korea (8), Spain (3), Israel (4), and Jordan (3 or 4).

The Patriot PAC-3 is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather missile defense system. Used by many countries, including Germany, Israel, Japan, Poland, and the United States, this air defense missile is designed by the United States. The missile itself weighs approximately 700 kg (1,540 lbs) and is about 5.2 meters (17 feet) long.

It can destroy targets at distances between 20 and 35 km (12 to 22 miles). Unlike other missiles that use explosive warheads, the PAC-3 uses a hit-to-kill method. This approach relies on the kinetic energy generated by the impact of the missile with its target to destroy it, eliminating the need for explosives.

The PAC-3 reaches a top speed of Mach 5, approximately 3,836 mph (6,173 km/h). It is equipped with an active radar seeker in its nose to guide the missile to its target, allowing it to track and engage targets autonomously. This guidance system is enhanced by mid-course updates from ground-based radar and the missile’s onboard inertial navigation system. The radar used for this update is the AN/MPQ-65, which plays a crucial role in the precise tracking and guidance of the PAC-3 missiles.

Strengthening air defense has become a priority for most European countries following the war in Ukraine. Germany is no exception, especially since it has significantly aided Ukraine and thus needs to bolster its own defenses. These purchases make a lot of sense for the German military.