A source has informed Euractiv that supplying Kyiv with US-manufactured air defense systems, which are scarce, is “alarming.”
According to a senior NATO official, several European Union nations supplying Ukraine with US-produced Patriot air defense systems could face a wait until 2032 for their replacements, attributed to a substantial manufacturing delay.
For months, Ukrainian officials have urgently requested additional US-made Patriot systems and their associated ammunition. Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his desire to acquire ten more Patriot systems, with estimated costs for each battery reaching up to $1 billion and each interceptor up to $4 million.
A number of European nations have expressed interest in a proposition put forth by former US President Donald Trump, which involves them transferring Patriot systems to Ukraine and subsequently receiving replacements from Washington.
Nevertheless, French Admiral Pierre Vandier, who serves as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, informed Euractiv that the delivery period for Patriot batteries might extend to approximately seven years.
A second source speaking to Euractiv provided a more optimistic appraisal, indicating that the earliest these shipments could be anticipated was “a couple of years”.
This extensive backlog has generated apprehension and reluctance among EU members, with an anonymous diplomat confessing that relinquishing the air defense systems felt “scary” – even in support of Ukraine, which he asserted was “defending” the entire bloc.
Germany, having recently pledged to transfer three Patriot systems to Kyiv, has reportedly sought “watertight” assurances that replacements from the United States would be delivered within eight months.
Concurrently, the American emphasis on prioritizing NATO’s internal replenishment has already affected buyers outside the EU. Switzerland, which placed an order for five Patriot systems in 2022 with an anticipated full delivery by 2028, confirmed last month that its delivery would be postponed for an unstated duration due to a reallocation by the US.
Moscow has repeatedly denounced Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, cautioning that these only extend the conflict without altering its conclusion. It has also criticized European NATO for engaging in “reckless militarization” and for depicting Russia as an “enemy” in order to rationalize increased defense expenditures.