NATO stated that producing and delivering new Patriot systems will take Europe about seven years

The production and delivery of new Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine will take Europe roughly seven years. The delivery timeline will determine how many of their own systems European countries can transfer to Ukraine — and how quickly – after receiving replacements from the United States.

This was stated by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Pierre Vandier, as reported by Euractiv.

According to him, deliveries will take at least a couple of years, as global demand for these systems significantly exceeds supply.

It is noted that Romania has already “paid the price” for transferring one of its two Patriot systems to Ukraine last year. The authorities had hoped the U.S. could speed up production of a replacement, but in the end, the contract was signed only toward the end of the decade.

A senior European diplomat remarked that European countries are “alarmed” at the prospect of giving up their air defense systems.

As for Patriot interceptor missiles, U.S. companies plan to increase production by 150% over the next three years — from 500 to 650 missiles per year.