Defense authorities report that MBDA has received a contract from Germany to modernize Patriot anti-missile systems. The work includes a redesigned missile configuration, enhanced radar capabilities, and updated software, as described by Defense Post. The modernization aims to improve detection, tracking, and interception performance against evolving aerial threats.
Tests of the upgraded missiles were conducted over a full week at MBDA’s Freinhausen test site. By late 2023, the updated Patriot complexes were anticipated to be delivered to the Bundeswehr units, reinforcing Germany’s air defense readiness amid ongoing security commitments in Europe. The project also envisions a new production line in Schrobenhausen dedicated to manufacturing the Patriot missiles tailored to the modernized system, signaling a step toward greater domestic industrial resilience and faster supply in future operations.
In related developments, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that Ukraine, with support from the United States and Germany, would receive American-made Patriot air defense systems from the Netherlands within a two-month timeframe at the latest. He emphasized that the transfer would proceed only after comprehensive personnel training conducted in the Netherlands, ensuring crews are prepared to operate the systems effectively upon arrival.
Rutte also noted that while the delivery timeline is clear, the Netherlands has not yet committed to training Ukrainian pilots within this phase, indicating that training decisions will be part of a broader and coordinated security solution. The remarks reflect ongoing consultations among allied partners on the most practical and sustainable framework for equipping Ukraine with Patriot systems, balancing readiness, and broader regional stability.