The Netherlands has already provided Ukraine with a radar system for the Patriot system and will soon hand over three launchers, Babel writes.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said this in an interview with Delfi during a visit to Lithuania.
He emphasized that the Netherlands has already delivered a radar system and that the country will supply three launchers “very soon”. According to the Dutch minister, his country is trying to find other elements needed to complete the Patriot system.
Former Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren had earlier proposed the idea that the Netherlands, in cooperation with another unnamed country, would provide various components of the Patriot system so that Ukraine could get a complete system.
And now the current Dutch Defense Minister says that there are several countries that are also very eager to help Ukraine, but they “have encountered some problems that make it impossible to assemble this system”. Ukraine’s partners are also thinking not only about supplying Patriot, but also about supplying NASAMS, for example.
Ruben Brekelmans did not disclose any other details in order not to inform Russia. At the same time, he noted that it is necessary to balance assistance to Ukraine, as other countries also need Patriot systems to protect their airspace.
The Dutch Defense Minister also gave some details about F-16s, of which his country promised to provide 24 units to Ukraine. So far, the Netherlands has delivered 18 F-16s to the European Training Center in Romania, where Ukrainian pilots are currently training. According to Ruben Brekelmans, last week the first Ukrainian pilot began training there. However, the Dutch minister did not disclose the number of planes already in Ukraine or the timing of the next delivery.
