THE HAGUE, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government signed a contract with the American company Raytheon on Tuesday to acquire an additional Patriot air defense system, the Ministry of Defence announced.
"The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East underscore the importance of strong air defense. That is why I am signing today for an additional Patriot fire unit," Dutch State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk said in a social media post, adding that the move is intended to strengthen the protection of both the Netherlands and its NATO allies.
The Patriot system consists of several components, including a launch station, a control station and a radar. The agreement also covers spare parts and a logistical reserve.
"The new contract underscores our ambition to respond quickly and effectively to evolving threats in the airspace," the Dutch Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
According to local media RTL News, two Dutch Patriot systems are currently deployed in Poland as part of NATO operations to counter potential Russian threats. One system remains stationed in the Netherlands, while a fourth, which was ordered last year, has yet to be delivered. With this latest purchase, the total number of Dutch Patriot systems will rise to five.
The exact delivery date of the new system has not been disclosed, though it is expected to be before 2030. ■
