Biden Announces New Air Defense Support for Ukraine at NATO Summit

 

At the NATO summit marking the alliance's 75th anniversary, President Joe Biden announced a new agreement with four countries to supply additional air defense systems to Ukraine, a crucial need as Kyiv defends against Russian missile attacks.

Speaking from the historic Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., where the original North Atlantic Treaty was signed, Biden described the agreement as a “historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine.” He detailed that the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy will provide Ukraine with equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems over the next few months.

“The United States and our partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of additional tactical air defense systems,” Biden added. The U.S., Germany, and Romania will supply additional Patriot batteries, the Netherlands will contribute Patriot components, and Italy will donate a SAMP-T system.

The five countries stated they are working on a “further announcement this year of additional strategic air defense systems for Ukraine.” They also plan to supply Ukraine with numerous tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS, and Gepard systems.

This announcement follows the U.S.'s recent move to prioritize Ukraine for Patriot and NASAM interceptors. “Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities and troops,” Biden said. Many of these interceptors will be delivered by the end of summer, with Ukraine taking precedence over other countries, except Taiwan and Israel, which will not face delays.

Biden's announcement came a day after a devastating Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s largest children's hospital, which killed at least 31 people and wounded over 150 in five Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending the summit in Washington, confirmed the attack.

More security packages for Ukraine from other NATO member countries are expected to be announced during the summit. “Together we’ve built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine,” said Biden, highlighting the collective economic, humanitarian, and military support provided to Ukraine, including tanks, armored vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles, and millions of munitions.

Biden concluded by noting that the United States and nearly two dozen allied partners have signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine.

Ukraine to Receive Patriot Air Defense Systems from Netherlands, Romania, and Germany Amid Ongoing Conflict

 

Ukraine is poised to receive three Patriot air defense systems and several other defense systems and missiles from Western allies, as announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal.

“Today, we have achieved significant results. Italy will provide us with a second SAMP/T system. Romania will offer one Patriot system. Germany will contribute one Patriot system, along with the IRIS-T system and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The Netherlands is currently assembling another Patriot system for us,” Shmyhal shared on Ukraine’s Rada TV channel.

Additionally, the prime minister disclosed that the United States will supply Patriot missiles and the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system. Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and Norway will also send additional Patriot missiles. Sweden has committed to sending two radar surveillance planes to Ukraine, Shmyhal added.

In early June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv had secured agreements with Western nations for more air defense systems, though specific details were not disclosed. Ukrainian officials frequently express concerns about the shortage of air defense systems and missiles, consistently requesting new supplies from their Western allies.

Conversely, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly asserted that new weapons deliveries to Ukraine will not alter the front-line situation but will only prolong the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed this sentiment, stating that any shipments of weapons to Kyiv would be considered legitimate targets by Russia.

Back in June, the United States halted the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles to prioritize supplying them to Ukraine, as confirmed by U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Kirby noted that this decision would impact allies relying on the U.S. for Patriot missiles, which are not currently in production. The redirected missiles are expected to arrive in Ukraine within the next few weeks, aligning with the arrival of U.S.-made F-16s capable of carrying AMRAAMs.

Facing a shortage of anti-aircraft systems to counter Russia’s persistent attacks, Ukraine is urging its European allies to implement a no-fly zone in the West by deploying air defense systems in nearby Poland and Romania. Kyiv aims to establish a secure area in western Ukraine to protect industries, energy infrastructure, and civilians from recent Russian strikes.

Lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko questioned, “Why doesn’t NATO deploy Patriot systems near the Polish border? Russian missiles have already breached Polish and Romanian airspace. This would safeguard the borders of Poland and Romania, creating a safe zone in the West and South of Ukraine.”

This sentiment was echoed by several Ukrainian civilian and military officials who spoke to AFP in Kyiv during a recent trip organized by the French Institute of International Relations [IFRI] and the local think tank New Europe Center.

Germany's Advanced IRIS-T Missile Goes Missing; Possible U.S. Link Suspected

The Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, recently reported the loss of an advanced IRIS-T missile, raising significant security concerns. The missile was discovered missing during routine inventory checks at a barracks in North Rhine-Westphalia amidst ongoing construction work.

It is suspected that the missile may have inadvertently been shipped to the USA, where the Air Force conducts regular exercises. Although the missing missile is believed to be unarmed and without fuel, the advanced encryption technology in its navigation system could pose a security risk if compromised.

Valued at approximately €250,000 ($271,000) each, IRIS-T missiles are critical assets. Despite the German Defense Ministry's claim that no missile is missing, the situation highlights existing security vulnerabilities within the Bundeswehr.

Previous incidents further underscore these concerns. In 2017, weapons were stolen from a military facility, prompting then Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to call for better incident reporting systems. A 2018 report revealed significant thefts of weapons and ammunition from the Bundeswehr, and a 2020 document disclosed that tens of thousands of rounds had disappeared from military arsenals since 2010.

The loss of the missile is particularly concerning given the IRIS-T's use in Ukraine, where it has proven effective against Russian threats. Germany has supplied Ukraine with four IRIS-T SLM/SLS air defense systems, which have been successful in neutralizing over 110 targets, including Russian cruise missiles.

Diehl Defense, the manufacturer, announced plans to increase production to meet growing demand, aiming to produce 450-500 missiles annually by 2024. The IRIS-T's effectiveness has been praised by Ukrainian operators, who have used it to defend Kyiv against multiple cruise missile attacks.

This incident highlights the need for improved oversight and inventory management within the Bundeswehr to prevent future security lapses and ensure the integrity of critical defense technologies.