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A coalition of European nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Romania, has ordered up to 1,000 Patriot air defense missiles through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
The $5.5 billion contract has been awarded to COMLOG, a joint venture between MBDA Germany and RTX, to produce and deliver these weapons as Ukraine faces an upsurge in Russian airstrikes.
Thomas Gottschild, the managing director at MBDA Germany, emphasized the contract’s significance in bolstering Europe’s industrial and military capabilities, noting the establishment of a production facility for Patriot missiles in Germany. This COMLOG facility is the sole producer of Patriot missiles outside the United States, with plans to expand Europe’s capacity for tactical Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles, or GEM-T. For over three decades, the German-American joint venture has supported NATO and the US Army with logistics for Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missiles.
The GEM-T missiles, known for their ability to intercept tactical ballistic missiles and aircraft, are a variant offered to international customers, complementing the PAC-3 version.
Amid this development, Romania has reportedly sought to purchase 200 PAC-2 GEM-T missiles for its launchers, though it needs to be clarified if this is part of the broader European order. This collective move comes as Ukraine experiences an intensification of Russian aerial attacks, marking a notable escalation.
