According to El Pais on April 26, 2024, Spain has agreed to supply a batch of 50 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, adhering to requests from NATO and the EU for European countries equipped with this American-made system to support Ukraine’s air defense against potential Russian attacks. Government sources disclosed that Spain’s Ministry of Defense has decided to supply only the missiles, each valued at over one million euros.
The refusal to send complete MIM-104 Patriot systems stems from the strategic need to retain these batteries, which also include missile launchers, radar, and control stations, within Spain’s borders, especially since one of Spain’s three Patriot batteries has been deployed on the Turkish-Syrian border since 2013. The Spanish Army currently possesses three Patriot batteries, acquired second-hand from Germany in 2004 and 2014. While one battery is located in Adana, Turkey, the other two are stationed at the Marines base in Valencia. Notably, one of these batteries is utilized for training Ukrainian and Spanish soldiers in operating the system.