Photo: Patriot missile system
The State Department has approved the possible sale of about 600 Patriot missiles to its NATO ally Germany for about $5 billion, the Pentagon confirmed on Thursday.
“The proposed sale will improve Germany's ability to counter current and future threats and enhance the defense capability of its armed forces,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement, Reuters reports.
Under new defense plans adopted by NATO, Germany "it will need to quadruple its air defenses to protect infrastructure and forces in the event of serious tension or war," a security source told Reuters last month.
Germany had 36 Patriot air defense units, which used the same missiles when it was the most heavily armed NATO state in Europe during the Cold War. Today, the German military has just nine Patriots after three were transferred to Ukraine to defend against Russian aggression.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that Lockheed Martin would be the prime contractor for the potential sale, which includes related equipment and technical assistance.
The agency notified Congress on Thursday of the potential sale.
By Sergey Daga