06 February 2023

Ukraine conflict: German Patriots in Poland reach IOC

by Nicholas Fiorenza

Luftwaffe Patriot air-defence systems deployed close to Zamość on the Polish-Ukrainian border have reached IOC. (Bundeswehr/Lars Koch)

Luftwaffe Patriot air-defence systems deployed to Poland have reached an initial operational capability (IOC), a German Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson told Janes on 4 February. Three Patriot firing units with around 350 military personnel had been deployed close to Zamość near the Polish-Ukrainian border, the spokesperson added.

The Luftwaffe announced the deployment to Poland of two of the three assigned Patriot squadrons of Flugabwehrraketengeschwader (Surface-to-Air Missile Wing) 1 based in Bad Sülze, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on 23 January. Each squadron consists of a fire-control station, multifunctional radar, power supply vehicle, radio relay station, radio mask station, resupply vehicle, and launch vehicles.

The MoD spokesperson told Janes, “The Patriots will defend Polish airspace and reinforce the integrated NATO air defence on the eastern flank as a contribution to NATO enhanced Vigilance Activities (eVA).”

Supporting the Luftwaffe in the deployment comes from across the Bundeswehr, including IT and medical personnel, as well as military police. The mission is commanded by Colonel Jörg Sievers, who previously commanded the Air Missile Defence Task Force in Sliač, composed of Patriots deployed by Germany and for six months by the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Janes was able to verify German media reports that 70 Ukrainians arrived in Germany for training for the Patriot system that Berlin is providing Kyiv.

Luftwaffe Patriot air-defence systems deployed to Poland have reached an initial operational capabil...

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