RUSSLES, Aug 4: The European Union has suddenly found itself fretting over its own inadequacies in air defence, after their delivery of Patriot batteries has left their own stores heavily depleted.
As per Caliber, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long called for the delivery of more Patriots as Russian air attacks grow more persistent and penetrate Kyiv’s air space further.
He expressed hope that Ukraine’s defence forces would receive ten additional batteries, something which US President Donald Trump had agreed on.
However, the EU and the UK’s massive delivery of Patriot batteries have left their own stores either completely empty or otherwise heavily depleted, triggering worries within Europe that their own air defence will face massive gaps, if the US supply is not swift.
The global demand for Patriots far exceeds supply, with new orders facing wait times of several years and costs reaching around $1 billion per battery and $4 million per interceptor missile.
So far, Kyiv has received six operational Patriot batteries from the US, Germany, Romania, and the Netherlands, according to UK-based arms monitor Action on Armed Violence. France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, and Spain however, have, refused to send Ukraine any Patriot batteries.
Additionally, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Croatia have refused to supply any military equipment to Ukraine.
NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier, estimates a lead time of around seven years for new Patriots, while defence contractors Raytheon, and Lockheed and Martin have said they plan to bolster production by 150% to meet the “unprecedented demand”, and deliver by 2028, investing over a $1 billion to secure critical materials and expand manufacturing capacity.
So far, Ukraine’s own stocks are next to empty, Europe’s own supply is very limited, with the US itself facing strong domestic shortages, all the while Moscow’s onslaught of missiles and drones over Ukrainian sky is ever advancing.
Russia has repeatedly stated that any weapon supplies to Kyiv is a hindrance to reaching peace, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warning that any Ukraine-bound weapon shipments will be a legitimate target for Russian troops.
(UNI)
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