Spain to purchase Patriot air defense systems

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of PATRIOT Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units to the Government of Spain.

The news was published on the official website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The Spanish government has received confirmation of a request for the possible purchase of four Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units and anti-aircraft missiles. The estimated total cost is $2.8 billion.

According to the published document, the country intends to purchase four AN/MPQ-65 radar sets, four AN/MSQ-132 Engagement Control Stations, and 24 Patriot M903 launch stations, along with generators and other related equipment.

In addition, 51 PATRIOT Advanced Capability (PAC) 3 Missile Segment Enhanced (MSE) missiles will potentially be ordered for the systems. These missiles are capable of intercepting long-range ballistic missiles thanks to an integrated active radar guidance system and a kinetic warhead.

The Spanish military is currently operating three Patriot PAC-2 missile systems, each consisting of six M901 launchers (18 in total).

The purchase of additional systems will allow Spain to acquire new capabilities in countering complex maneuverable and ballistic targets, and to significantly expand its ground-based air defense network.

Spanish Patriot

One of the three Spanish batteries has been deployed at the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey since 2015 as part of military support for NATO forces. The other two batteries are in the service of the 73rd Marine Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Valencia) and are considered strategic for national defense.

It is known that the Spanish Patriots have already crossed the end of their service life and need major repairs and modernization.

The country’s Defense Ministry has been working on a program to restore and modernize the Patriot from the PAC-2 to the PAC-3 version for a long time, for which €1.4 billion have been allocated. This should provide them with the ability to intercept ballistic missiles.

Previously in June, the US allowed the Foreign Military Sale of Patriot systems to Poland for an estimated cost of $15 billion.

Poland plans to receive six Patriot PAC-3 systems by the end of 2028 as part of the Wisła air defense program.