German plans to replace Patriot system given to Ukraine delayed

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meets with members of the Patriot air defense missile system unit as he visits the Cologne-Bonn Air Force base to attend a demonstration of the capabilities of the Territorial Command of the German army Bundeswehr in Wahn, a suburb of Cologne, Germany, October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's purchase of Patriot air defence missile systems to replace those given to Ukraine is taking longer than initially planned, the German defence ministry said in response to a lawmaker's written query.

Negotiations with the U.S. manufacturer (U.S. weapons maker Raytheon) on buying several systems are underway, with delivery expected to begin in 2025 and to be completed in 2027, the ministry told lawmaker Ingo Gaedechens of the opposition Christian Democrats.