Germany to Extend Patriot Air Defense Deployment in Poland until 2023

Germany has offered to extend the deployment of three Patriot air defense units in Poland until the end of 2023, in order to protect the southern town of Zamosc and its railway link to Ukraine. The deployment was triggered by a stray Ukrainian missile that struck a Polish village last November. Some of Germany's Patriot units will be needed for use by NATO's quick reaction response force in 2024, while others require maintenance. Ground-based air defense systems like the Patriot are in short supply across NATO, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted allies to bolster their inventories and provide air defense systems to Ukraine.