European Production of Patriot SAM Rockets Launched in Germany
In Europe, the production of missiles for the Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system is set to begin. The information comes from a statement by the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The assembly of these missiles will take place in the southern part of Germany, at a specialized facility where the technical maintenance of Patriot missiles is already underway, and a dedicated production line for manufacturing new missiles is being established. This initiative is carried out on behalf of NATO's procurement agency, representing a coalition of several European countries, including the Netherlands, Romania, Germany, and Spain.
The overall plan is to produce 1000 missiles for the Patriot SAM system. The responsibility for production lies with a consortium comprising the major European manufacturer MBDA and the American company Raytheon. "The new production line demonstrates that international cooperation in the defence industry yields tangible results. In the near future, together with our European partners and industry, we will continue to explore ways to expand production capacities. In the context of the conflict in Ukraine and growing threats worldwide, this is an urgent need," noted the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren.
Patriot air defence systems can be utilized to eliminate aircraft, helicopters, and fast ballistic and cruise missiles over long distances. These systems are currently deployed, for example, in Ukraine, where they have demonstrated their effectiveness by successfully intercepting Russian hypersonic missiles like the "Kinzhal."
As reported by The Gaze, Germany and the Netherlands have called on Europe to prepare for war with Russia. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, in particular, stated that this could happen within the next 5–8 years, emphasizing the need to restore the potential of the armed forces, the military-industrial complex, and society during this period.
The Chief of the Land Forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, General Martijn Wijnen, believes that residents of European countries closest to the potential aggressor are more morally prepared for a possible war. The military leader suggests that the Netherlands should follow their example in this regard. According to the general, the Netherlands must significantly strengthen its army, since Russia only understands the language of strength. He also pointed out that Dutch citizens should already have reserves of food and drinking water to survive in emergency situations.