European Nations Prioritizing Europe-made IRIS-T & SAMP-T over American Patriot Air Defense Systems?

Cost difference between IRIS-T vs. Patriot 

It has been reported that IRIS-T SLM battery will cost approximately $200 million. In comparison, a single MIM-104 Patriot battery is priced at around $1 billion. If you take the example of Bulgaria, it has planned to acquire a minimum of seven air defense batteries for a combined cost of $1.4 billion. The cost difference is striking.

Effectiveness of the IRIS-T in Ukraine:

The IRIS-T system has reportedly proven its effectiveness by persistently countering Russian aerial threats in Ukraine. 

In an interview with Army TV published on March 14, 2025, the commander of Ukraine’s separate anti-aircraft missile division, Oleksandr, says its crew shoots down 99% of all Russian air targets, Army TV reported. The head of the IRIS-T SAM service, Dmytro, says that one of their launchers has destroyed more than 30 targets alone.

The Ukrainian soldiers noted that their air defense unit successfully destroyed 15 Russian cruise missiles in a single attack with the IRIS-T air defense system. The West Air Command shared a video on Facebook on March 12, showing Ukraine’s IRIS-T system neutralizing a Russian cruise missile. The IRIS-T missile is launched from its platform, striking and eliminating the cruise missile, preventing it from reaching Ukraine and striking Ukraine’s infrastructure.

SAMP/T

The French-Italian SAMP/T surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, equipped with Aster 30 Block 1 missiles, is designed to protect mechanized forces and key installations from a wide range of air threats, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles. It can destroy aircraft at distances of 3 to 100 kilometers and ballistic missiles at 3 to 25 kilometers. The Aster 30 missile travels at 1.4 kilometers per second and intercepts targets at altitudes from 50 meters to 20 kilometers. It is a two-stage missile, with the booster steering it toward the target and separating seconds after launch.

The SAMP/T features the Arabel radar, a 3D phased array system developed by Thales, which rotates to provide 360-degree coverage. Arabel can track up to 100 targets, guide 16 missiles simultaneously, and operates at 150 kW peak power with a 100-kilometre range. The system functions effectively in environments with heavy electronic countermeasures and clutter.

SAMP/T has shown integration with Ukraine’s air defense network, including Patriot and NASAMS systems supplied by NATO. However, as President Zelenskyy has noted, its effectiveness has been questioned on multiple occasions.

“Regarding SAMP/T missiles, we’ve never had enough of them. That’s the issue with these systems. We’re grateful to Italy and France for providing us with what they have in service. These are sophisticated systems – good systems – but they’re not equivalent to the Patriot. They’re effective and can shoot down targets, but not everything the Patriots can intercept. We appreciate these systems and don’t want to specify the regions, but they have been, and continue to be, helpful. There is one problem with these systems – a significant shortage of missiles, which has always been a constant issue,” he said at a briefing.

Patriot Vs SAMP/T

The Patriot’s “shoot-shoot-see” approach, which includes firing two missiles per target, contrasts with the SAMP/T’s more conservative “shoot-see-shoot” doctrine, which may conserve munitions but could be less effective in high-intensity engagements.

The SAMP/T has reportedly faced challenges intercepting ballistic missiles, particularly compared to the Patriot system. Reports suggest that software issues and the limitations of the Aster 30 Block 1 missile (pre-2015 variant) hinder its performance against advanced ballistic threats. Previous reports stated that the system’s inadequate performance was due to maintenance issues, a lack of spare parts, and the fact that it uses an aging missile.

However, in March 2025, one of Ukraine’s two SAMP/T batteries proved its mettle when it reportedly shot down a Russian fighter jet. 

The SAMP/T systems are strategically placed to protect key urban centers and infrastructure, complementing Ukraine’s six Patriot batteries. However, Russia’s intensified attacks, including saturation strikes with drones and missiles, have strained Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, highlighting the need for more systems and munitions.

Air defense systems’ performance in Ukraine

Russia has gone on a rampage against Ukraine with multiple barrages of drones and missile attacks aimed at obliterating its infrastructure. However, Ukraine finds itself in a bind with its air defense missile stockpiles almost running dry.

Citing unidentified sources, French publication Le Monde reported on May 26 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have run out of missiles for their two SAMP/T air defense batteries.

In addition, the interception rate in Ukraine has also allegedly plummeted. The report claims that Ukraine’s air defense managed to shoot down more than 90% of enemy drones as recently as 2024, but that figure has now fallen to 30% in certain areas.

Artem, a 34-year-old Ukrainian air defense battery commander, cited by the report, said Russian forces analyze the outcomes of every strike to identify weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense. This is followed by a modification in their strategy by programming their drones and cruise missiles to follow intricate paths to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses and deplete ammunition. “In some places, they scatter across the sky and then group up again. They also use a lot of physical and electronic decoys,” he said.

Recent Patriot purchases by European countries

U.S. President Donald Trump said in July that Washington will send weapons, including Patriots, to Ukraine via NATO. "We're going to be sending Patriots to NATO and then NATO will distribute that," Trump said.

In the following month, four European countries - Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark - agreed to buy $1 billion worth of U.S. weapons for Kyiv.

Chancellor Merz has also said that Germany is ready to buy Patriot systems for Ukraine. To date, the U.S. has only approved the delivery of three Patriot missile batteries to Kyiv — and that was under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden.

Patriot comeback in Europe?

In August, U.S. approved $8.5 billion sale of IBCS-enabled Patriot system to Denmark. In addition, Washington approved $329 million sale of Patriot sustainment to Ukraine which includes missiles and other consumables.