Spain bolsters Ukraine's defence with Patriots and Leopards

Spaniards have declared the transfer of Patriot missiles to the Ukrainian army. They are expected to arrive there within four days. This is not the beginning of the support Ukrainians can expect from Spain.

The Spanish armed forces have decided to transfer long-range intercepting Patriot missiles to the Ukrainian army - such information was conveyed on Friday by the Spanish Ministry of Defence, led by Margarita Robles. Minister Robles had the opportunity to discuss this decision during Friday's video conference of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

At the end of the meeting, the Ministry of Defence issued an official statement informing that Robles conveyed this decision to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. Minister Robles assured President Zelensky that the Patriot missiles would be in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers within four days.

During the video conference, Robles also reminded attendees of the Spanish armed forces' recent delivery of large-calibre artillery ammunition to Ukraine. She added, "In the coming months, further deliveries of ammunition of 155 mm and 120 mm calibre are planned."

During Friday's meeting, Minister Robles also informed that preparations for the Spanish army's delivery of more Leopard tanks to Ukraine are proceeding according to plan. She announced that the first of these vehicles should be ready to ship before the start of July.

The Spanish Ministry of Defence also informed that by the end of June, the Spanish army will transfer additional equipment to Ukraine, including light and heavy machine guns, wheeled logistics vehicles, and armoured infantry transport vehicles. Additionally, Ukraine will receive anti-tank weapons and field artillery howitzers.

The Ministry of Defence in Madrid also informed that, in the next phase, various anti-aircraft surveillance systems and remote defence control stations against drones will be delivered. The Spanish defence industry is preparing all this armament.

During the NATO summit in April, Germany announced the search for Patriot systems worldwide. It was also declared to organize the necessary financing of the missiles. Spain came to Ukraine's aid, voluntarily transferring its Patriots.

The Patriot is an American air defence system on a mobile vehicular platform. Patriots can engage targets over 100 kilometres away. Patriots use fragmentary warheads weighing about 90 kilograms. The missiles can destroy targets at altitudes up to roughly 24 kilometres, and their flight time ranges from 9 seconds to 3.5 minutes. The maximum speed of the missiles varies from 3 to 5 times the speed of sound, which is between about 3,600 and 6,000 km/h.