
Germany Will Be Able to Supply Ukraine With Domestic Patriot Missiles, But Not Before 2026
Germany is expected to receive the first interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system, produced at its own facilities, in late 2026 or early 2027.
European Pravda reported on this.
German Major General Christian Freuding stated during a briefing for journalists in Kyiv on July 12.
“We have started building our production lines for this type of missile in Germany. The first deliveries from there will be ready no earlier than 2026, at best in early 2027,” the major general said in response to a question about Germany’s ability to independently produce interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system.
When asked whether Germany would have freedom of choice in how to dispose of these missiles, in particular with regard to their transfer to Ukraine, given that this is American technology, he replied that there would be no problems with this.
“It will be independent. It will be a new production line, a European production line,” he explained.
In November 2024, MBDA launched the construction of a new production facility in Germany to manufacture GEM-T anti-aircraft missiles for the Patriot air defense system and other guided missiles.
On November 18, 2024, a symbolic ceremony was held at the site in Schrobenhausen to lay the first stone of the new guided missile production facility.
The new facility will cover an area of approximately 6,000 square meters and create more than 300 new jobs. Construction is scheduled for completion in September 2026.
However, although the German facility will be the only place outside the US where GEM-T missiles for the Patriot air defense system will be manufactured, production will be limited to final assembly.
Additionally, the German company Rheinmetall, in collaboration with the American company Lockheed Martin, plans to establish large-scale production of ATACMS and Patriot PAC-3 missiles in Europe.
However, negotiations on the establishment of this production are still ongoing, so the major general probably meant the GEM-T missile production line. Compared to the latest version of the PAC-3 MSE missiles, GEM-T missiles are slightly less likely to intercept ballistic targets. However, GEM-T missiles have a longer range (160 kilometers) against aerodynamic targets — aircraft and cruise missiles — compared to PAC-3 MSE (120 kilometers). In addition, one launcher can hold 12 PAC-3 MSE missiles, while GEM-T can only hold four.