A German army Patriot air defence unit stationed at the Sliač airbase in Slovakia. Photo: EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK

The White House has moved Germany to the top of the production queue for Patriot air defence systems, allowing Berlin to more quickly transfer its two existing Patriot systems to Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Friday, citing three US officials.

The decision, reported shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced ongoing talks with Washington over a weapons “mega deal”, marks the first time the US has helped transfer Patriot systems to Ukraine during US President Donald Trump’s second term.

As part of the move, Washington’s next available Patriot missile systems, which can take “years and years” to be produced, according to Alina Polyakova, head of the Center for European Policy Analysis, will be given to Germany, rather than Switzerland.

The move is intended to allow Germany to send its existing Patriot systems to Ukraine, a move expected to take place in the near future.

During the signing of a joint UK-Germany security treaty on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters the systems would reach Ukraine “very shortly” and be operational within weeks, according to Politico. Three days prior, Trump stated that they were “already being shipped”.

It is not known, however, how many Patriot systems Ukraine is set to receive.

Though the White House’s decision to prioritise German in its Patriot production queue frees up two weapon systems for transfer, Trump claimed on Monday that “17 Patriots [were] ready to be shipped” to Ukraine, exceeding the 10 systems requested by Zelensky at a Ukraine conference held in Rome last week, Euronews reported.

Ukraine has at least six Patriot systems currently operational, which were previously provided by the US under President Joe Biden, the Netherlands, Germany and Romania.

Widely regarded as one of the most advanced air-defence systems in the world, Patriot missile systems defend against incoming missiles and aircraft in three steps: a radar detects the threat, a control station calculates the interception, and a launcher fires interceptor missiles.