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According to information from El Pais, Spain has agreed to deliver a batch of 50 missiles for Patriot systems to Ukraine, complying with NATO and EU requests for European countries equipped with this American-made system to support Ukraine's air defense against potential Russian attacks. Government sources said the Spanish Defense Ministry had decided to supply only the missiles, each costing more than a million euros.
Details
The refusal to send the MIM-104 Patriot systems stems from the strategic need to keep these batteries, which also include missile launchers, radars and control stations, within Spain's borders, especially since one of the three Spanish Patriot batteries was deployed on the Turkish-Syrian border since 2013. The Spanish army currently owns three Patriot batteries, purchased second-hand from Germany in 2004 and 2014. One battery is in Adana, Turkey, the other two are at the Marine Corps base in Valencia. Note that one of these batteries is used to train the Ukrainian and Spanish military to work with the system.
Despite a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi for the transfer of six batteries to protect key locations from a possible Russian offensive, the Spanish Ministry of Defense rejected it, citing the critical importance of these systems to national and allied air defense. As a compromise, Spain agreed to supply Ukraine with a limited number of Patriot missiles, given the country's military reserve of about fifty units and the high cost of the interceptors.
This supply decision coincides with plans to strengthen Spain's defense capabilities with a full suite of Patriot systems in a more advanced configuration. Due to military sales from the US to Spain of approximately $2,8 billion. This sale includes four upgraded PATRIOT Configuration-3+ units and additional equipment. Package features include:
- 51 units of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhanced (MSE) missiles;
- 24 M903 launch stations;
- 4 AN/MPQ-65 radar sets;
- 4 AN/MSQ-132 combat control stations;
- other related systems such as 2 units of the Information Coordination Center (ICC) and 8 groups of antenna masts.
This procurement is pending a government approval process in Spain, and the new systems are not expected until 2028 or 2029, leaving the Spanish Armed Forces to manage air defenses with existing resources.
In addition to missile support, the Spanish government plans to deliver 19 additional Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks to Ukraine by September 2024. This initiative, subject to confirmation by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will facilitate the replacement of all Ukrainian Leopard 2A4 tanks damaged or destroyed by Russian forces during the war. Spain's supply of new anti-aircraft systems is constrained by limited resources; Spain operates only four Nasams batteries with current commitments in Latvia and Estonia. Although Spain previously supplied Ukraine with 12 Hawk missile launchers, the cessation of their production and the depletion of existing stocks creates problems for additional support.
According to Army Recognition, the Ukrainian military is training in Spain to use and maintain several air defense systems, in particular MIM-104 Patriot missile systems. This training also covers NASAMS air defense systems, with instruction conducted by Spanish Army personnel at both the Toledo Training Coordination Center and Tentegorra Barracks in Cartagena. In addition, more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel completed a five-week course at the Italian Infantry Academy in Toledo, focusing on the operation of the Yastrub air defense missile system. These exercises aim to equip Ukrainian forces with the necessary skills to maintain and effectively use these systems in defense operations.
The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system used primarily by the United States Army and allied nations for air and missile defense purposes. Developed by Raytheon and first launched in 1984, the system has undergone several upgrades over time. It is known for its mobility and modular design, which allows for rapid deployment in about an hour. The system combines radar systems and interceptor missiles capable of hitting several air threats at the same time. It effectively counters aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones.
In terms of capabilities, the Patriot system includes a variety of launchers and missiles, including the PAC-2 and the more advanced PAC-3, which improves defense against ballistic missiles. Its radars, such as the AN/MPQ-53 and the newer AN/MPQ-65, provide comprehensive target detection and tracking capabilities. The PAC-3 variant includes MSE, increasing the coverage area and the size of the defense zone, particularly notable for intercepting tactical ballistic missiles. Combat control stations provide near-autonomous operation, requiring minimal human intervention for interception. Continuous hardware, software, and interoperability with other defense systems, such as the Integrated Combat Control System (IBCS), contribute to Patriot's utility in today's integrated air and missile defense architectures.
