News item | 14-04-2022 | 13:46
“It’s not just something. You will soon be defending part of the eastern flank of the NATO treaty area. This is a very serious assignment. I think the capacity is enough deterrent that it doesn’t come down to firing. If it does, then I know that you are well trained and together with the Germans will get the job done. I know that NATO partners can count on us. Be safe!” That is what Commander Land Forces Lieutenant General Martin Wijnen said to the Patriot detachment just before it left for central Slovakia with surface-to-air guided weapons systems.
The equipment convoy and about 150 soldiers go to Sliac Air Force Base. The fire unit is deployed in the vicinity, in principle for 6 months. This is due to the deteriorating security situation in Europe after Putin’s troops invaded Ukraine.
The Netherlands then granted NATO’s request to make Patriots available. Together with the Germans, Dutch soldiers strengthen the allied deterrence and defence. The Netherlands supplies 1 Patriot fire unit, Germany 2. The United States has also recently indicated that it will supply a Patriot fire unit. In this way, the three countries protect the Slovak territory and its inhabitants against possible missile threats. Something that is not inconceivable; Slovakia borders on Ukraine.
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.
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A Patriot missile tracks a target and intercepts it using an electronically controlled radar beam.
With the Patriot surface-to-air guided weapon system, aircraft, helicopters and high-speed ballistic and cruise missiles can be taken out. This is possible up to a height of 20 kilometers and a distance of 60 kilometers.
Missiles
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.
The Defense has had the Patriot since 1987, which has since been modernized.
S-300 systems
Slovakia also has its own air defense assets with S-300 systems, but recently decided to supply them to Ukraine. This is separate from the temporary Dutch Patriot deployment in Slovakia. The Netherlands does not supply this country with Patriots, but deploys them here for NATO at the request of the alliance. The Patriots in Slovakia therefore fall under the command of NATO.