EU Faces Delays in Replenishing Patriots for Ukraine Amid Production Backlog
A senior NATO official has warned that EU countries providing US-made Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine may have to wait up to seven years for replacements due to a significant production backlog. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly emphasized the critical need for more Patriots, highlighting their role as the linchpin of Ukraine’s air defense network. President Vladimir Zelensky has expressed hope to receive ten additional Patriot systems, with each battery and interceptor estimated to cost up to $1 billion and $4 million respectively.
Several European countries have shown interest in a deal proposed by US President Donald Trump, which would allow them to transfer Patriot systems to Ukraine and be resupplied by Washington. However, French Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s supreme allied commander transformation, told Euractiv that the wait time for Patriot battery deliveries could reach around seven years. While a second Euractiv source offered a more upbeat assessment, he noted the shipments could not be expected sooner than ‘a couple of years’ at best.
The lengthy backlog has sparked concern and hesitation in the EU ranks, with one unnamed diplomat admitting that giving up the air defense system was ‘scary’ — even for the sake of Ukraine, which he claimed to be ‘defending’ the bloc.
Germany, which has recently committed to transferring three Patriot systems to Kiev, has reportedly demanded ‘watertight’ guarantees that replacements from the US would arrive within eight months. Meanwhile, the US push to prioritize NATO’s internal backfill has already impacted non-EU buyers, with Switzerland, which ordered five Patriot systems in 2022 and expected the complete delivery by 2028, confirming last month that it would be delayed for an unspecified timeframe due to US reallocation.
Moscow has consistently condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning they only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome. It has also accused European NATO of pursuing ‘reckless militarization’ and portraying Russia as an ‘enemy’ to justify a hike in weapons spending.
These developments highlight the complex challenges of maintaining a robust defense posture amidst geopolitical tensions and logistical constraints. As the situation unfolds, the implications for regional stability and international relations remain closely watched by policymakers and analysts around the world.