At the onset of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the German armed forces possessed twelve Patriot air defense fire units (batteries). Three of these, with support from the Netherlands, were transferred to Ukraine.
But now, according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in an interview with the Financial Times, the Bundeswehr has only six combat-ready batteries remaining. Pistorius clarified the fate of the others: two were leased to Poland, while one is always out of combat rotation — either undergoing repairs or being used for training.
Read more: Germany to Fund Two U.S.-Made Patriot Systems for Ukraine
Defense Express adds that Germany’s transfer of two Patriot batteries to Poland is an interesting case that deserves a closer look. It began in March 2022, just weeks after russia launched its invasion. At the time, Germany quickly deployed two Patriots and Eurofighter jets to Poland. However, this reinforcement of Polish air defense lasted only until July that same year.
On November 21, 2022, the German Ministry of Defense officially offered to lease two Patriot systems to Poland, not for free. Moreover, this arrangement allowed Berlin to offload the cost of maintaining the systems and associated personnel stationed abroad.
Poland, however, responded by calling for the Patriots to be sent directly to Ukraine instead. Berlin refused, citing the need for a collective NATO decision. Nevertheless, on December 6, Warsaw formally accepted the German proposal, though Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak reiterated that deploying the systems to Ukraine would have been the better option.
Po rozmowie z MON,z rozczarowaniem przyjąłem decyzję o odrzuceniu wsparcia . Rozmieszczenie Patriotów na zachodniej zwiększyłoby bezpieczeństwo Polaków i Ukraińców. Przystępujemy więc do roboczych ustaleń ws. umieszczenia wyrzutni w i wpięcia ich w nasz system dowodzenia — Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) December 6, 2022
Such reinforcement of Ukraine’s air defense ultimately happened in April 2023. This timing suggests that Ukrainian crews began training just months after the decision to lease the systems to Poland — meaning the decision to transfer Patriot batteries to Ukraine followed almost immediately after.
It is also possible, though not confirmed publicly, that the two leased batteries in Poland are positioned to protect the vital logistics hub in Rzeszów that helps in weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Protection of this hub was among the original conditions tied to the German deployment.
It's worth noting that the real number of available Patriot systems in the Bundeswehr was, in the first place, made public by the German defense minister largely to declare that Berlin currently cannot afford to commit additional systems to Ukraine.
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