A factory for Patriot missiles is being built in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, and is set to become the first of its kind in Europe. First deliveries from the plant are scheduled for 2027, the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Thursday. The plant is a cooperation between American manufacturer Raytheon and German defence company MBDA, and work to start production has been ongoing since 2024.
The Bavarian plant will produce the older PAC-2 GEM-T missile model. Unlike the latest PAC-3 variant, the older model does not strike its target directly but explodes in its vicinity. Experience from the war in Ukraine has shown that shooting down an enemy missile then requires more than just one missile. Another German defence company, Rheinmetall, is seeking cooperation with American Lockheed Martin to start production of the newest PAC-3 missile model in Germany. However, these plans have not yet materialised.
The factory under construction already has orders for 1,000 missiles. Not only the German Bundeswehr is interested in the deliveries, but also Spain, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden. The Schrobenhausen plant is also likely to supply the 600 missiles promised by Germany to Ukraine. The United States, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden signed an agreement at the NATO summit in Ankara to establish a PAC-3 missile maintenance centre.
– The US approach to potential production of Patriot missiles by Ukraine has not changed – said Karolis Kavolelis, US ambassador to NATO.
Ukraine’s urgent needs and supply challenges
Sueddeutsche Zeitung draws attention to Ukraine’s difficult situation. President Volodymyr Zelensky estimates his country’s needs at at least 300 PAC-3 missiles for the coming winter, which corresponds to half of global production. According to the authors, additional help from Germany is questionable due to its own shortages. The newspaper quotes German General Juergen Schroedl as saying that Germany has hit a wall and must also think about its own security.
According to Financial Times reports, President Donald Trump rejected a request for several hundred interceptor missiles during a meeting with Zelensky at the end of July, citing needs resulting from the war with Iran. A possible solution would be to transfer missiles to Ukraine by countries that have not yet been involved in providing aid. In this context, Sueddeutsche Zeitung mentions Spain and Greece, but in the case of both countries there are no signals indicating a readiness to help.
SAMP/T as an alternative
According to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the Franco‑Italian SAMP/T project is seen as a European alternative to the Patriot system. Ukraine already has several such launchers and will receive the latest generation of the system next year. However, the scale of missile production for these launchers is even smaller than for the Patriot system. This year, only 230‑270 Aster‑30 missiles intended for engaging ballistic missiles will be produced.
France has proposed that Germany join the production of missiles for the SAMP/T system. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius believes that having two different air defence systems is not straightforward. Nevertheless, in his view, Germany should examine the French offer very seriously.
