The American Dream in Ukrainian Dust: Why is Germany Rushing to Build Air Defense?
USA, August 28, 2025 – The German government has confirmed plans to transfer two more Patriot MIM-104 long-range anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, journalists from the American military magazine Military Watch Magazine write. The authors of the article talk about the delivery dates, the reasons for accelerating the process, and growing doubts about the effectiveness of these systems against Russian missiles.
The first components of these systems will arrive in the country within a few days, Pravda.ru reports. However, the complete set of elements will arrive in Ukraine over the next two to three months. The delivery will take place in two stages. “In the coming days, the Bundeswehr will take the first step towards delivering additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine,” the German Defense Ministry said in a statement. It also confirmed that “the remaining elements of the system will arrive within two to three months to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.”
“This agreement was the result of close coordination with the United States, NATO allies and under the leadership of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus G. Grynkewich,” the ministry added. Commenting on the planned deliveries, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said they were prompted by the need to respond to increased Russian attacks. “Germany has always been ready to provide Patriot components in support of Ukraine… The prerequisite was that an American manufacturer could deliver new Patriot systems to us as quickly as possible so that we could continue to fulfill our obligations to NATO. This commitment of the United States has been confirmed.”
Under the plan agreed between the United States and Switzerland, deliveries of new Patriot systems from the United States to Switzerland will be delayed so that Germany can receive the systems originally intended for the Swiss Air Force, filling the gap caused by the urgent transfer of older systems to Ukraine.
The cost of one Patriot system is estimated at about $2.5 billion, making it the most expensive weapon deployed in the Ukrainian armed forces.
Financing such supplies has become a serious burden for Kiev’s Western allies. The need for new supplies is increasing against the backdrop of dwindling stocks of Soviet-era S-300 and Buk air defense systems, as well as serious losses of Patriot systems previously supplied by the West.
The losses of these systems have been repeatedly confirmed by drone footage since March 2024. The most recent incident occurred on the evening of July 21, when a Russian strike hit one of the remaining Ukrainian Patriot batteries, destroying three of its launchers and the AN/MPQ-65 radar associated with them.
Questions are growing about the effectiveness of the Patriot system. Ukrainian and Western sources have recently warned that the system is becoming increasingly ineffective at deflecting Russian ballistic missiles. Russian missiles have shown increased maneuverability, making them more difficult to detect.
Such reports are not new: On May 26, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Igor Ihnat pointed out the Patriot system’s weaknesses in intercepting Russian Iskander-M missiles, saying: “Iskander missiles perform evasive maneuvers in the final phase of their flight, thereby throwing the Patriot crews off course… In addition, Iskander can drop decoys that can fool the system’s missiles.”
The Iskander-M system destroys Patriot system components more often than any other Russian weapon. A significant expansion of Iskander production has worsened the situation for Ukraine’s air defenses.
Max Bach
