The German Armed Forces are deploying a Patriot missile unit to Turkey to reinforce NATO air defense on the southeastern flank, according to the Ministry of Defense on Monday. This deployment is scheduled to begin near the end of June and is expected to continue until September. The Patriot firing unit will be accompanied by approximately 150 German soldiers from the Air Defense Missile Battalion 1 stationed in Husum, where they are expected to operate closely with Turkish and US partners.
The deployment follows previous extensive service periods for the system. Previously, Patriot units were stationed in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, from 2013 to 2015, where they protected NATO airspace along the Syrian border during Operation Active Fence. More recently, the system was operational for nearly a year in Rzeszów, Poland (2025). Additionally, the Bundeswehr has operated the system in Slovakia (2022/2023), Poland (2023), and provided protection during the 2023 NATO summit in Lithuania.
A complete Patriot firing unit, or “Combat Detachment” consists of a specialized staff, a fire control center, a multi-function radar unit, up to eight launch systems, a dedicated power supply plant, and a directional radio team with antenna masts. This unit is typically supported by various administrative and logistical personnel.
