Spain has formalized an agreement with the United States for the procurement of Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 MSE missiles, a critical component for upgrading their Patriot anti-aircraft systems. This acquisition forms a key element in Spain’s broader air defense modernization strategy.
Lockheed Martin announced that officials from the U.S. and Spain have finalized the deal, which includes the purchase of PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and associated support equipment. However, the announcement did not specify the contract’s financial details or the exact number of missiles to be acquired.
This purchase follows the Spanish government’s approval of a defense program valued at nearly 2.4 billion euros, aimed at enhancing the country’s Patriot systems. The upgrade plan includes the acquisition of new equipment, logistical support, technical assistance, and training. The Spanish Ministry of Defense intends to purchase additional system components and upgrade existing Patriot batteries to a 3+ configuration, incorporating the PAC-3 MSE variant. Although the full scope of the program has not been disclosed, the U.S. Department of Defense approved the initial batch, expected to comprise approximately 50 units, as of October 2023.
With this agreement, Spain becomes the sixteenth country to join the PAC-3 MSE program. Lockheed Martin highlights the missile’s advanced capabilities against threats such as tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, and aircraft. The integration of the PAC-3 MSE will significantly bolster Spain’s air and missile defense posture in response to emerging threats.
Spain’s defense industry is deeply involved in this effort, with Oesía Group securing a contract to produce PAC-3 components at Tecnobit’s facilities in Valdepeñas. Additionally, Spain has recently acquired GEM-T missiles, an enhanced version of the PAC-2 system currently in service with the Spanish Army’s Patriot batteries. This acquisition was part of a collective effort by four NATO nations—Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain—to procure 1,000 missiles from Comlog, a joint venture between Raytheon and MBDA.
Although the distribution of these missiles among the participating countries remains undisclosed, the Spanish government has allocated €400 million for Patriot missile purchases, suggesting that Spain’s share might be around 200 units. Sener, a key player in the Spanish defense sector, has a contract with Raytheon to develop and produce the electromechanical control sections of the GEM-T missiles at its Tres Cantos facilities in Madrid.
The U.S. is aggressively ensuring a steady supply of surface-to-air missiles for the Patriot systems across Europe. Earlier this year, NATO launched an initiative to help European countries, including Spain, acquire up to 1,000 missiles for the U.S. Patriot system. In January, COMLOG received a production and delivery contract from the NATO Support and Supply Agency (NSPA), valued at up to $5.6 billion, for the GEM-T variant of the PAC-2 Patriot missile. This contract includes the qualification of updated components, the addition of new suppliers, and the provision of test equipment and spare parts to support future operations. The timeline and duration of missile deliveries remain unspecified.
The timeline for Spain’s receipt of its first PAC-3 missiles remains uncertain. While Ukraine continues to utilize Patriot missiles in its defense against Russian aggression, it’s important to note that the U.S. suspended the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles at the end of June. This decision, confirmed by John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, was driven by the urgent need to redirect these missiles to Ukraine.
This move has significant implications for nations currently dependent on the U.S. for their Patriot systems. As reported by ZeroHedge, Kirby acknowledged that this will impact U.S. allies relying on these interceptors. The missiles, which are not actively being produced, are being prioritized for Ukraine. This decision also includes the redirection of missiles for the NASAMS system, another key defense asset used by Kyiv.
Concerns are mounting over the U.S. missile stockpile, especially given the high demand in Ukraine and ongoing operations against Houthi drones around the Red Sea. The continued diversion of missiles to Ukraine raises questions about the adequacy of U.S. reserves. For U.S. allies awaiting interceptors, even a delay of 16 months is cause for concern. Moreover, the failure to fulfill promised deliveries could undermine U.S. credibility in future defense commitments, a critical issue if the conflict in Ukraine continues.
