RTX arms plant in Massachusetts on the east coast of the USA does not keep up with the implementation of orders. The demand for anti -aircraft Patriot systems of the American manufacturer is huge – especially in Ukraine, which is harassed by waves of Russian attacks every day.
After the recent phrases of US President Donald Trump, who ended with patience with his Russian counterpart, became clear: Ukraine, however, is to receive deliveries, and allies want – in addition to further weapons – to organize five Patriot systems for Kiev without unnecessary formalities.
Trump expects something in return for its concession. He made it clear during the last meeting with the Secretary General of NATO Marek Rutte in the oval office, when he turned to Europeans: – We do not buy them, but we will produce, and you will pay for it. In this way, the US president wants to bake two baking on one stone: Support Kyiv, and at the same time pass on to the Magician supporters with your tired war that the bill will be covered by Europe.
This is the plan. However, since this surprising announcement, a real effort is just ahead of us. Trump's move apparently surprised the allies and forced them to act.
Fight against time
The German defense minister Boris Pistorius and Chancellor Friedrich Merz for weeks promoted their plan in the Pentagon and the White House. The fact that Washington gave green light is a success of the German government – but fragile. The devil is in detail, and these must be arduously negotiated.
Berlin tries to bring order to chaos. For example, it was necessary to alleviate the statement of the US President that systems from Germany are already on their way to Ukraine. Trump introduced additional confusion, talking about a “country”, in which 17 Patriot systems are ready to be delivered. Perhaps Trump simply confused individual rockets with the whole system.
The battery consists of, among others, fire control, radar vehicle, antenna modules and at least four launchers mounted on trucks. In each of these launchers there are several rockets, depending on the model there are about 30 of them. At least three such batteries are needed to defend the city like Kyiv.
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Such a complex design means a high production price. A single intercepting rocket costs around 3 million euros (12 million 821 thousand PLN), and the entire battery about one billion euros (4 billion 274 million PLN). In addition, there is a long production time: according to RTX data from the moment when the first screw passes through the production line, two to three years have passed until production.
This means that about twelve batteries can be produced during the year. NATO Secretary General Rutte complained in June that up to ten years from placing to delivery. This is a valuable time that Ukraine does not have.
So that Kyiv would not have to wait so long, Two mechanisms are currently focused: First, Ukraine could use the rockets that have already been ordered, but have not yet been delivered as a kind of preferential treatment. The second option could be that Governments would be provided in a short time with systems from their supplies. In both cases, the key issue is to quickly replace systems in countries that will agree to such a solution.
Problems with delivery are to be resolved by moving these countries to higher places on the RTX manufacturer's order list. Pistorius also insists on this. – It is necessary to present a proposal that will be able to obtain the majority, take into account obligations towards NATO and will not limit our own security – said the defense minister in an interview with the weekly Der Spiegel.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Erding, 22 July 2025.Frank Hoermann / Sven Simon / Sven Simon / DPA Picture-Alliance via AFP / AFP
Bundeswehr can pass on to Ukraine more Patriot batteries only if Germany receives new directly from the USA. And not in the distant future. – We expect NATO to turn to the USA again and explain to the Patriot systems producer that the countries that transfer batteries must receive new systems within a few months. This commitment must be inalienable – said Pistorius.
However, the statement also shows that the basic details of the initiative remain unclear. Success, and thus the safety of many Ukrainians, still depends largely on Washington's actions – which is a considerable risk factor. There is already talk about the occurrence of bottlenecks in the production of Patriot systems. According to the research conducted by “The Guardian”, this also prompted Trump's administration at the beginning of the month to suspend deliveries to Kiev.
It would be possible to transfer even systems guaranteed by a contract. This can be seen in the example of Switzerland. Last week, the US Department of Defense informed the government in Bern that the delivery of Patriot systems will be analyzed again in terms of urgency, and Switzerland will receive “later productions”. Switzerland ordered five Patriot systems, the delivery of which was to start in 2026 and end in 2028.
No clear declarations
However, it is not clear where the necessary financial resources will come from. Berlin wants to finance “to two systems” – in addition to three batteries already delivered from the Bundeswehr resources. “Other NATO countries also want to participate in the costs of this support,” said the German government in response to the query. A group of experts led by NATO, which includes representatives of supporting countries, is to agree on further details of delivery. However, after the Wednesday meeting in Brussels, no details were made public.
Who asks at the headquarters of NATO in Brussels, Berlin and other European capitals, receives unclear answers: there are no binding obligations so far. “Analysis” is underway.
On the request of “Die Welt” the Finnish Ministry of Defense announced that “details of the US initiative are not yet known”. “We need more information before we can make more specific decisions,” said the ministry. Sweden signaled interest, but is currently busy determining details. “This is an urgently needed initiative in which Sweden will contribute. Not all details about the contribution of Sweden have not yet been established,” it was said.
Norway was the most specific: this country wants to cooperate with Germany “in the supply of additional air defense systems for Ukraine and participate in the costs of purchasing new air defense systems.” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store confirmed this during a visit to Merz in Berlin at the beginning of the week.
US President Donald Trump with NATO Secretary General Marek Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House, July 14, 2025.Fatih Aktas / Anadol Agency / Anadol Agency via AFP / AFP
The Netherlands “largely” will contribute to the supply of additional air defense systems Patriot to Ukraine, 'said defense minister Ruben Brekelmans recently. Greece and Spain, users of Patriot systems in South Europe, did not comment on this issue. In the past, attempts to convince them to convey Patriot systems Ukraine failed. It is also unclear whether Romania and Poland will transfer systems because they need them to defend the Eastern Flanka NATO.
– It is good that the Chancellor can now conduct check -up diplomacy. It helps Ukraine. But those who always resisted will still do it. I do not think that Spain or Greece change their position – notes military expert Nico Lange. Germany can only hope that other countries will follow in their footsteps and not everything will depend on the German contribution. – But the truth is that a lot depends on German money Says Lange.
Only a partial solution
As for the delivery date, expert opinions are divided. Military analyst Colonel Markus Reisner from the Austrian army estimates that it may take several weeks or even months before the first systems are ready for use in Ukraine. Lange predicts that patriots may appear in Ukraine in the coming days or weeks.
Even if the allies' plan succeeds and five Patriot systems reach their destination, They will not be able to stop the Russian wave of attacks on their own. On N-TV, Reisner described the Russian air advantage with the so-called Trinity. – First, hundreds of combat drones and lure drones appear, which force Ukrainian anti -aircraft defense to fire them with expensive weapon systems. Each of the coming drones can be equipped with explosives. At the same time or immediately after this wave, rockets and maneuver shells are fired from Russia.
The calculation of Moscow is that Ukraine will first exhaust the ammunition for defense, and then “this more powerful weapon will reach the destination.” Therefore, the use of Patriot rockets against these combined attacks does not make sense from a military or from an economic point of view. In recent days, a picture often appears in the media space: cannons shooting at the sparrows. Added to this is the fact that Kiev still lacks ammunition for Patriot systems.
Therefore, pressure in Europe increases to provide more equipment for antimiconic defense and offensive weapon. There are also discussions about offensive rockets that can hit Russia deeply-just like the German-Swedish Taurus maneuvering shell. – Thanks to weapons such as Taurus, Ukraine could destroy Russian drone factories. It would be, next to stable air defense, the most effective solution – indicates Lange.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
