News item | 18-03-2022 | 17:23
At NATO’s request, Germany and the Netherlands Patriot-air defense systems in the vicinity of the air base in Sliac, in central Slovakia. The cabinet already announced on 8 March that it intends to do so. Today it has been definitively decided that the systems will be deployed. They are intended to enhance Allied deterrence and to protect the Slovak territory and its inhabitants against any missile threat. Slovakia borders Ukraine. The patriots are operational from mid-April for a maximum period of 6 months.
Reinforcement of deterrence and defense
Minister Ollongren: “The cabinet considers it of great importance to make an active military contribution to strengthening the deterrence and defense of the NATO alliance,” the minister wrote to the House of Representatives. “The deteriorating security situation in Europe as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine makes this contribution necessary.” In addition, she also finds it important to comply with the request of our strategic partner Germany to act jointly in Slovakia. “With this concrete military deployment, the close cooperation relationship between the two countries will be further shaped.”
Patriot
The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided weapon system that can be used to take out aircraft, helicopters and high-speed ballistic and cruise missiles. This is possible up to a height of 20 kilometers and a distance of 60 kilometers. The patriots are ready from the beginning of April to travel to our NATO ally Slovakia. When exactly they will go depends in part on Germany’s planning. The patriots are embedded in the NATO command structure in Slovakia.
The Patriot is pre-eminently a weapon system that is aimed at defensive deployment. The Netherlands uses PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. The PAC-2 explodes near the target, which is destroyed by the cloud of shards. The PAC-3 does not have an explosive warhead. The missile disables the target by flying into it. The PAC-3, self seeks its target and is therefore very effective to take out fast ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Since 1987, the Ministry of Defense has had the Patriot, which has since been modernized. The air defenders work closely with their German colleagues. The Netherlands delivers 1 Patriotfire unit, Germany 2. From the Netherlands, approximately 150 soldiers are going with the patriots to Slovakia.
Niche Capacity
The Patriot is a so-called niche capacity in Europe. Only Germany, Greece, Spain and the Netherlands have it. Patriot stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target† One Patriotmissile tracks a target and intercepts it using an electronically controlled radar beam.
Previously deployed
The Dutch patriots previously deployed in 1991 during the first Gulf War, then during the next Gulf War in 2003. Last time patriots were stationed abroad from 2013 to early 2015. With more than 200 military personnel, the air defense systems in southern Turkey were in place to protect the country against ballistic missiles from Syria.