Austria may procure Arrow-3 and/or MIM-104 Patriot missile defence systems as part of the Sky Shield initiative

Another country intends to strengthen its missile defence with long-range surface-to-air missile systems. The Austrian Ministry of Defence plans to sign contracts by the end of 2026.

Here's What We Know

The agreements must be formalised by the end of 2026 so that a final decision can be made before the change of power. The bill will soon be sent to parliament. This is reported by Klaudia Tanner, Austrian Defence Minister.

The European Sky Shield Initiative is a German initiative designed to protect European countries from ballistic and cruise missiles following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Germany will use Arrow-3, MIM-104 Patriot and IRIS-T SLM systems to provide a multi-layered air defence.

Defence News writes that a spokesman for Austria's armed forces said it was too early to talk about specific systems. But there is a possibility that the European country will buy American MIM-104 Patriot and/or Israeli Arrow-3 systems. In addition, at the beginning of autumn it was announced the intention to purchase IRIS-T medium-range surface-to-air missile systems.

We learnt back in the summer that Austria had joined the European Sky Shield Initiative. The key claim of critics is that such a decision jeopardises the neutrality of the European country.

Source: Defence News