German Government Supplies Ukraine with Patriot Missiles for the First Time
The German government has updated today its list of military equipment being provided to Ukraine, which for the first time includes missiles for the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. This was announced on the government's official website.
Over the past week, Ukraine has received from Germany, among other things, missiles for the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, eight drone detection systems, 40 RQ-35 HEIDRUN reconnaissance drones, 16 Zetros trucks, and 510,000 rounds of ammunition for firearms.
The planned list of German weapons to be transferred to Ukraine has also been updated. For the first time, it mentions 90 drone detection systems and an additional 31 million rounds of ammunition for firearms. The list also nearly doubles the number of Zetros trucks that are being prepared for shipment to Ukraine.
To recall, at the beginning of August, the German government announced that it had supplied Ukraine with two launchers for the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.
Earlier, in April, Germany provided Ukraine with a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system complete with missiles. Each system includes a radar, a command centre, and up to eight launchers, each capable of carrying four missiles.
In addition to this, Ukraine has also received another Patriot system from the United States along with additional launchers from the Netherlands.
Last week, the United States approved the shipment of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine. This move aims to bolster Ukraine's defence capabilities against potential Russian aggression and follows the completion of pilot training, as stated by an American official.
As NATO members, Denmark and the Netherlands are leading international efforts to train pilots, support staff, and aircraft maintenance, ultimately aiding Ukraine's purchase of F-16s for potential use in a war with Russia.
This month, a coalition of 11 countries led by Denmark is set to begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. In July, Denmark’s acting Defence Minister Troels Poulsen expressed the country's hope for the "results" of this training by the beginning of 2024.