Germany Will Send Two Patriot Defense Systems To Ukraine

Patriot missile defense system. (Wikimedia Commons/Lance Cpl. Alyssa Chuluda)

JAKARTA - German authorities on Friday said they would send two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the United States, Berlin would be the first to receive the latest system.

Thanks to the US commitment, "Germany could initially support Ukraine with launchers and then with components of the additional Patriot system," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.

Bundeswehr soldiers will initially ship additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by an additional system component that will be delivered in the next two or three months.

In return, Berlin will receive a new Patriot system, which it funded, from the United States in a period of time.

Ukraine's need for air defenses is increasingly pressing as Russia has intensified its national airstrikes this summer.

On the other hand, Patriot's defense system has proven effective in destroying Russian ballistic missiles.

Germany, which has previously shipped three Patriot systems to Ukraine, said on Friday the delivery of the additional system would not affect its contribution to the NATO defense alliance.