NATO has announced plans to aid its allies in purchasing up to 1,000 Patriot missiles to enhance their territorial defense capabilities in response to Russia’s intensified air attacks on Ukraine.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency revealed that it would facilitate the acquisition of Patriots for several nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.
These missiles are designed to defend against cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as enemy aircraft.
The contract for this purchase, estimated to be approximately USD 5.5 billion according to industry sources, is expected to enable allies to allocate more of their own defense resources to support Ukraine.
While the agency did not provide specific details, it mentioned that other NATO member nations are anticipated to benefit from the terms of the contract.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the significance of modern air defenses in light of Russia’s recent missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians and settlements.
Stoltenberg stressed the importance of increasing ammunition production for both Ukraine’s security and that of NATO members.
Although NATO itself provides only non-lethal support to Ukraine, its individual members have been supplying weapons and ammunition to the country.
Russia’s latest offensive, which commenced on Friday, marked the largest single assault on Ukraine since the conflict began, further intensifying the ongoing war along the 1,000-kilometer front line.
The attacks have resulted in the deaths of over 40 civilians since the weekend.
In a recent escalation, Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s two largest cities, resulting in five fatalities and up to 130 injuries, as the conflict approaches its two-year mark.
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