Despite the global shortage, Spain will supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles
Spain has pledged to provide Ukraine with five missiles for the Patriot air defense system amid a global shortage caused, in part, by the war in the Middle East.
This was reported by El País.
The missiles in question are Patriot PAC-2 variants currently in service with the Spanish Army. Although this is not the most advanced version (Spain plans to upgrade them to the PAC-3 standard), they remain a crucial component of the air defense system.
According to Spanish government sources, the transfer of the missiles was not publicly mentioned during Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit, but the decision has already been made. The estimated cost of a single missile is $3–4 million, and the total amount of aid is approximately €15 million.
The Spanish government emphasizes that although the conflict in the Middle East is not “Europe’s war,” it is Russia’s war against Ukraine that determines the continent’s future, as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states are under threat.
At the same time, the key problem remains not funding, but limited production capacity. The American company Raytheon is currently unable to meet the sharply increased demand for these systems. In particular, deliveries of new Patriot batteries to Spain itself have already been postponed until 2031.
Against this backdrop, the decision by Pedro Sánchez’s government to transfer even a limited number of missiles to Ukraine is viewed as a significant contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s air defense.
As a reminder, there remains a severe global shortage of PAC-3 missiles, most of which partners are currently directing to the Middle East. Ukraine, which also needs these air defense systems, is negotiating with other countries regarding alternative solutions.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the war in the Middle East would inevitably lead to a reduction in the supply of critically important interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s air defense system.
