Germany redeploys Patriot defence systems to Poland
Germany has deployed two units of its Patriot air defence system to safeguard the logistics hub located in Rzeszow, southeastern Poland, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced.
Pistorius met with his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, at the Polish military airport in Jasionka, near Rzeszow, on Thursday.
Germany's Patriot air defence system will commence operation on Monday and remain in Poland for six months, Pistorius said. This task had been earlier performed by US forces.
The deployment of Eurofighter jets was also announced for the summer, aimed at securing the airspace of the Baltic States as part of NATO's air policing initiative.
Patriot air-defence systems were stationed in Poland from January to November 2023, with 320 Bundeswehr soldiers operating these systems at two sites near Zamosc, eastern Poland, located 33 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. This deployment was initiated to safeguard Polish airspace following a Russian missile strike that resulted in the deaths of two individuals in a Polish village near the area at the end of 2022.
Poland plays a crucial role as a political and military ally to Ukraine, with Rzeszow functioning as a logistical centre for the delivery of Western military and humanitarian assistance to Kyiv.
The Patriot system is recognised as one of the most advanced air defence systems in the world, specifically engineered to counter enemy aircraft, missiles, and cruise missiles. (PAP)
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