US Approves German Transfer of ATACMS and Patriot Missiles to Ukraine

Germany has really stepped up in recent months.

ATACMS firing in a Lockheed Martin demonstration. DoD

The United States has formally approved Germany’s request to transfer more than 200 US-manufactured missiles to Kyiv.

This includes 125 long-range surface-to-surface rockets compatible with HIMARS and MARS II launchers, and 100 Patriot air defense interceptor missiles. A US congressional official confirmed the decision on May 10, 2025, according to The New York Times.

Germany has been stepping up their Ukraine support tempo in recent weeks, and this authorization positions Germany as a key conduit for US firepower moving forward. The missiles are currently in transit through Germany and will be handed over to Ukraine once logistical arrangements are complete.

Under US export control laws, countries in possession of American-made weapons must obtain Washington’s approval before transferring those weapons to third parties, a policy designed to protect sensitive technologies and strategic oversight, even among allies.

Though officials have not specified the exact type of rockets in the transfer, the consensus points to the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, a Lockheed Martin-built precision-strike missile that has already proven its utility on Ukrainian soil.

Designed for use with both the M270 MLRS and the nimble HIMARS launchers, ATACMS gives Ukraine the ability to strike targets up to 190 miles away with pinpoint accuracy. That’s far beyond the reach of any Soviet-era artillery still in use and turns previously unreachable targets, ammo dumps, airfields, and command posts into vulnerable assets.

Each missile uses a combined GPS and inertial navigation system, achieving a circular error probable of less than 10 meters. And while Russia has had some success at jamming US weapon systems that rely on GPS, there has been a flurry of activity at multiple levels of government aimed at hardening US munitions against interference… Another invaluable lesson learned in Ukraine that the US benefits from.

In 2024, ATACMS units helped Ukraine flatten a Russian military installation in Crimea, reportedly destroying multiple aircraft and a substantial ammunition stockpile. It was a reminder that this missile is not just a deterrent, it’s a precision instrument of consequence.

Importantly, Ukraine’s operational familiarity with ATACMS is growing. These weapons have been used to disrupt Russian supply chains, force logistical rerouting, and threaten high-value targets deep behind enemy lines.

This is long-range firepower that carries strategic weight, especially in a conflict defined by entrenched positions and layered defenses.

While ATACMS hits deep, the Patriot system protects what’s close. The 100 interceptor missiles included in this transfer, likely PAC-3 or PAC-3 MSE variants, will significantly boost Ukraine’s ability to shoot down incoming threats, from cruise missiles to Iskander-class ballistic missiles and Shahed loitering drones.

A MIM-104 Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile System assigned to the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade fires during a joint live-fire exercise with military members from the Royal Netherlands Ground-based Air Defense Command at McGregor Range, N.M., May 11, 2024. The Patriot Missile System is a highly mobile air defense guided missile system designed to engage and intercept any aerial threats, whether it be aircraft or tactical ballistic missiles, under any weather conditions and in natural or induced environments. The command showcased its capabilities, firing interceptors at simulated drone targets during the training event while working with Dutch Allies.

As of this writing, the Patriot is the only Ukrainian air defense system that can reliably hit Russian ballistic missile threats.

Unlike earlier interceptors that used proximity-based explosions, the PAC-3 MSE uses a hit-to-kill kinetic energy mechanism. When a target is closing at Mach speeds, there is no margin for error, and the Patriot’s guidance suite delivers precision.

Ukraine already operates six Patriot batteries, but they are stretched across Ukraine’s vast territory. The addition of 100 interceptors helps plug the gaps, but it’s far from comprehensive.

President Zelensky has said Ukraine needs between 10 and 25 batteries (and many times more effectors) to blanket the nation effectively.

Each Patriot battery uses the AN/MPQ-65 radar system to track up to 100 targets in 360 degrees and deploys up to 16 missiles at once. In April 2024, a Patriot battery famously intercepted a salvo of Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles over Kyiv, a feat that few other systems in the world can match.

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