Missiles for Patriot will be serviced in Europe – five NATO countries signed the agreement

The United States, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden signed an agreement to establish a service center in Europe for PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The new service center is intended to accelerate production, maintenance, and the return of missiles to combat use, writes UNN. 

"Our goal is not only to purchase modern weapons but also to produce and service them in Europe – with the participation of Poland," wrote Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The agreement on PAC-3 missiles is another signal of a shift in approaches to developing Europe's defense capabilities. Countries are increasingly investing not only in arms procurement but also in creating their own production, service, and logistics capabilities. This concerns the ability to ensure the full lifecycle of weapons operation in conditions of prolonged war.

This is precisely the approach that Ukraine was forced to implement after the start of the full-scale invasion. Despite limited resources, the Ukrainian defense industry was able to rapidly increase production, engage the private sector, and create new technological solutions that partners are now actively adopting. CEO of Fire Point Iryna Terekh believes that today NATO's main problem is not a lack of funds but a shortage of production capabilities.

"Even with all the money in the world, you cannot buy security and independence. Today, NATO has more funds than its industry can provide with capabilities. Ukraine has demonstrated a real miracle since the full-scale invasion, but there is no outright magic, and we are still dependent on partners in our own security framework," Terekh noted.

In her opinion, the response to this challenge should not be competition between manufacturers or states, but the development of a joint defense ecosystem.

"What to do? Cooperate instead of competing, put security interests above business interests, stop whining and roll up your sleeves," emphasized the CEO of Fire Point.

Reminder 

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO Defense Industries Forum called on European countries to urgently develop their own capabilities in the field of missile defense. According to him, Europe needs to establish production of missile defense systems and interceptor missiles, as ballistic missiles remain one of Russia's key military advantages.  

One such project is FREYJA – a European missile defense system that Ukraine is developing together with partners. Its foundation is the Ukrainian interceptor missile FP-7.X from Fire Point, and European manufacturers have already joined the project, including the German company HENSOLDT, which will provide the system with TRML-4D radars. Simultaneously, negotiations are ongoing regarding the integration of other key components necessary for creating a full-fledged European missile defense system.