Spain on Saturday approved the purchase of a US-manufactured Patriot missile battery from Germany, in a deal worth nearly 100 million eurosmillion dollars), according to a government statement.

The battery will help Spain meet a commitment made to NATO to acquire the "capacity to act against ballistic missiles, which have become one of the main and new threats against nation states," the statement said.

El Mundo reported that Spain intends to install at least 64 of the missiles in the southern coastal provinces of Sevilla and Cadiz.

The missile battery, to be bought from Germany for 98.2 million euros, half its market value, will include a radar capable of spotting a missile 150 kilometres (90 miles) away.

Patriot missiles are able to intercept a missile from a distance of 80 kilometres, 20,000 metres (65,000 feet) above ground.

Spain will become the fourth European Union nation to be equipped with the anti-ballistic missile technology, after Germany, Greece and the Netherlands.

Defence ministry officials were unavailable for comment on Sunday.

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