Spain will transfer missiles to Ukraine for the Patriot system, despite pressure from NATO and the EU, which demand that European countries with this American-made system transfer them to Kyiv.
This was reported by El Pais.
According to government sources, the decision to transfer a small quantity of missiles was made after the Spanish Ministry of Defense refused to transfer a battery to Ukraine, deployed since 2013 on the border of Turkey and Syria.
The Spanish army has three batteries at its disposal, each equipped with corresponding missile launchers, radar, and control stations, purchased in Germany in 2004 and 2014. One of these batteries is located in the city of Adana (Turkey), and the other two are based on marine infantry (Valencia), with one of them used for training Ukrainian and Spanish soldiers in the use of this system.
The Spanish Ministry of Defense categorically refused to supply the systems to Ukraine, stating that they are the only effective ones in case of missile attacks, as demonstrated during the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and that the Spanish armed forces are insufficiently equipped.
However, as compensation, the government agreed to provide a shipment of Patriot missiles, according to sources that were reached. In any case, it will be a very limited quantity, as the Spanish military reserve consists of about 50 units, and interceptors are very expensive.
