US approves possible Patriot sale to Spain

The Spanish Army operates Patriot air-defence systems acquired secondhand from Germany. (Spanish Army)

The US State Department notified Congress on 4 October of a possible US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Spain of Patriot Configuration-3+ modernised fire units for an estimated cost of USD2.8 billion, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in a press release later the same day.

The agency said that the Spanish government had requested four Patriot Configuration-3+ modernised fire units consisting of 51 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, 24 Patriot M903 launchers, four AN/MPQ-65 radar sets, four AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations, two information co-ordination central (ICC) control stations, eight antenna mast groups, four electrical powerplants, and four energy power units. The possible FMS would also include communications, tools and test, and training equipment; range and test programmes; support equipment and services comprising skid kits, telemetry kits, generators, publications, and technical documentation; training equipment; spare and repair parts; a repair and return programme; personnel training; new equipment training; technical assistance field team support; flight test support and targets; US government and contractor technical assistance, engineering, and logistics support services; systems integration and checkout and battalion demonstration; field office support; and other related logistics and programme support.

“The proposed sale of the Patriot missile system will improve Spain's missile defence capability, increase the defensive capabilities of its military, and support its goal of improving national and territorial defence and interoperability with US and NATO forces. Spain will use the Patriot to defend its territorial integrity and for regional stability,” the agency said.

The prime contractors for the possible sale are Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.