First units of the Patriot combat squadrons back from Poland
After almost ten months, the first units of the three Bundeswehr Patriot squadrons have returned from their deployment in Poland. The first convoy of around 40 large vehicles crossed the border on Wednesday and arrived at the Ferdinand-von-Schill barracks in Torgelow (Vorpommern-Greisfwald district) in the evening. All Polish units should be back in Germany by December 13.
The German air defense systems have been stationed in the vicinity of the city of Zamość in south-eastern Poland since mid-January to protect the country's airspace after a deadly missile strike and to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. From there, it is around 60 kilometers to the Ukrainian border and 110 kilometers to the Ukrainian city of Lviv (Lemberg).
Originally, the Patriot systems were to be stationed there for six months. However, the deployment was extended in the summer. With support forces, around 350 soldiers were involved in the deployment at the same time. On Thursday, the unit will return from Torgelow to its home base in Bad Sülze.
Poland's neighbor Ukraine has been at war with Russia since the Russian attack in February 2022. Following a missile strike on Polish territory in November last year, Berlin and Warsaw agreed to deploy German Patriot missile defense systems to Poland. Two Polish citizens died in the missile strike.
The Bundeswehr currently has ten Patriot systems. They are among the most modern in the world. They are used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. The defensive missiles can hit targets at a distance of around 100 kilometers and at altitudes of up to 30 kilometers in an imaginary bell around the position - depending on the missile used.
Using a radar, the Patriot system first classifies flying objects in the sky into friend or foe categories. In the event of a threat, soldiers in the control center fire the missiles to neutralize the attacking objects. Up to 50 possible targets can be monitored simultaneously and up to five actively engaged.
The extension of the Patriot system deployment in Poland was a response to the ongoing conflicts and tensions between Ukraine and Russia. NATO allies, including Germany, have been strengthening their defense on the eastern flank to preserve peace and security in the region.
Source: www.dpa.com
