European NATO member states have signed a contract for the production and supply of one thousand missiles for the US Patriot air defense system worth $5.5 billion.
NATO's arms procurement agency reported that the countries that signed the contract include Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.
At the same time, missile production will be expanded in Europe: it will be deployed at a plant in Germany, which is being created as a joint venture between the German defense concern MBDA and Raytheon, a member of the American RTX group.
The North Atlantic Alliance announced the purchase of a large batch of ammunition for the Patriot at a time when Russia has intensified its air attacks on Ukraine, using various types of missiles.
Ukraine's air defense system has also been successfully using Patriot systems supplied by its Western allies to combat these attacks.
"Russian attacks using missiles and drones against Ukrainian civilians, towns and villages show how important modern air defense is," AFP quoted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as saying, "Increasing the production of munitions is a key security issue for both Ukraine and us.
As AFP reminds, Western countries have been actively supplying ammunition for Ukraine's air defense systems, which has depleted their stocks, and now they have to ask for help in replenishing the arsenals of countries such as Japan.
The cost of one missile for the Patriot system is about $4 million.
The contract signed by European countries also provides for the supply of spare parts and equipment for testing ammunition.
Background. As reported, the defense forces have destroyed more than 1,700 Russian missiles of various types in two years.