The US will establish its first European maintenance center for PAC-3 Patriot missiles in Poland, the Pentagon announced. The center will be developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and European allies. It will deal with the maintenance and repair of missiles used in American air defense systems. Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden will be responsible for critical supply chain integration. The Pentagon expects the center to reduce takeoff times, improve the combat readiness of Patriot systems, and allow capabilities to ramp up more quickly in the event of a crisis. The project is also intended to strengthen NATO's eastern tank.