Spain has signed a $1.7 billion contract with Raytheon to procure four Patriot air defense systems, significantly enhancing its ground-based air and missile defense capabilities.
The acquisition package includes 24 M903 launchers, four AN/MPQ-65 radar units, four AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations, two coordination and information centers, and four power supply plants. The deal follows approval by the US State Department in October 2023, with final authorization granted by Madrid in mid-2024.
While the original foreign military sale authorization included 51 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, these missiles are reportedly not part of the finalized contract. Instead, Spain concluded a separate €400 million ($471 million) agreement in early 2024 with Raytheon and MBDA for Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile–Tactical (GEM-T) interceptors, as part of a broader NATO procurement involving Germany, the Netherlands, and Romania.
In addition, Spain has finalized the purchase of an undisclosed number of PAC-3 MSE missiles from Lockheed Martin, according to local media. The Spanish Army currently operates three Patriot batteries acquired from Germany, with one delivered in 2004 and two more in 2014. These systems are operated by the 73rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment based near Valencia, with each battery comprising six launchers capable of firing up to 20 missiles.
Since 2015, one Spanish Patriot battery has been deployed to Turkey under NATO’s Active Fence mission, providing air and missile defense coverage for the city of Adana against potential ballistic missile threats from Syria.
