Euractiv reported the information.The agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and European NATO countries to supply Patriot systems to Ukraine depends on how fast the U.S. can send new batteries to Europe. Some European states are interested in Trump’s offer to sell them new Patriot systems so they can pass their existing units to Ukraine without weakening their own defenses.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long requested additional Patriot systems, especially given ongoing Russian air attacks. So far, Ukraine has received six systems from the U.S., Germany, Romania, and the Netherlands. However, Europe’s stockpiles are limited — roughly two dozen batteries across six countries: Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Spain. Their arsenals have already been significantly reduced after previous transfers to Ukraine.There are concerns that if deliveries from the U.S. are slow, these countries could be left without effective air defense for an extended period. That is why Germany, leading the new initiative, is demanding firm guarantees that new Patriots will arrive within eight months. Once assured of prioritized deliveries, Berlin agreed to new shipments to Ukraine. This means other countries, such as Switzerland—which ordered Patriots back in 2022—may face delays. Norway and the Netherlands have also expressed willingness to support the deal. The U.S. is reviewing which systems can be prioritized for Ukraine, but the final decision rests with the president.Production speed remains a serious challenge. Demand for Patriots far outstrips supply capacity. One battery costs about $1 billion, and each missile around $4 million. Even with optimistic estimates, delivering new batteries will take several years. For example, Romania transferred one of its two systems last year but will receive a replacement only toward the end of the decade.NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, French Admiral Pierre Vandier, estimates delivery times for new Patriot batteries at around seven years. Another well-informed source speaking to Euractiv was more optimistic but still said deliveries would take at least a couple of years.Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are working to ramp up production: GEM-T missile output is planned to increase by 150% by 2028. Raytheon is also investing nearly $1 billion in manufacturing capacity but faces supply chain challenges for key materials.Euractiv emphasizes that even with political will, technical and production constraints significantly limit how quickly Patriot systems can be delivered to protect Ukraine.In the coming days, the German Armed Forces will deliver two additional Patriot air defense system launchers to Ukraine as part of agreements with the U.S.