Ukraine May Receive First “Swiss” Patriot Air Defense System in Six Months

Ukraine may receive the first Patriot air defense system, which was intended for Switzerland, in six to eight months.

This is reported by BILD.

According to the publication, citing sources in the German government, it was originally planned that the Americans would transfer the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine from their own stocks, and Germany would cover the cost of ordering the new system.

But then Trump insisted that the US military could not transfer any of its air defense systems. Europe will have to not only purchase new air defense systems, but also transfer existing systems from its own stockpile to Ukraine.

However, as the publication notes, Europe lacks air defense capabilities. For example, Germany had twelve Patriot systems in service by early 2022. However, three systems have already been transferred to Ukraine, and two systems are in Poland to protect the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, which is a hub for military assistance to Ukraine.

In addition, three systems are currently undergoing modernization and are therefore not operational, and at least one more system is needed to train soldiers. This means that at the moment, a maximum of three systems are available for German air defense.

Therefore, confidential negotiations have been going on for several days about who can transfer their systems to Ukraine.

“In recent days, we have come to an agreement that we will supply new Patriot systems to Ukraine from the European continent and from Europe as a whole, and then these systems will be replaced by the United States. After all, we must also maintain our own defense capabilities,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

As a result, Ukraine’s partner countries agreed that the United States would postpone the delivery of Patriot to Switzerland in favor of Ukraine.

The first system will be sent to Ukraine instead of Bern, and Germany will pay for it. However, this system is still being finalized by Raytheon and is expected to be ready in six to eight months at the earliest. Switzerland ordered five Patriot PAC-3 systems in 2022. Delivery was to begin in 2027 and be completed a year later.

According to BILD, despite the critical shortage, Germany is considering transferring another Patriot system from the Bundeswehr to Ukraine.

Germany has already ordered eight new Patriot systems to compensate for the ones transferred to Ukraine and to expand the capabilities of its own air defense system, but the first of them is due to arrive only at the end of 2026, and the rest – by 2029.