Germany weighs $1.3B Patriot Air-Defense System purchase

Germany is looking at buying four additional Patriot missile-defense systems at a cost of as much as €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) on top of the four Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government ordered in March, Report informs referring to Bloomberg.

The plans are at an early stage and officials are still assessing how to finance the expanded order, which could lift the overall price tag to about €2.6 billion, according to people familiar with the plans, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information.

A spokesman for the defense ministry in Berlin declined to comment on specific procurement projects, referring instead in general terms to the government’s push to better equip the armed forces.

The budget committee in the lower house of parliament in Berlin in March approved the procurement of the initial four Patriots, with the first one expected to be delivered by the end of next year.