According to a report, the United States apparently intends to supply the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The project is subject to approval by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, CNN reported Tuesday, citing unnamed government sources. Appropriate plans could be made official this week, it said.
The Patriot system is a ground-based anti-aircraft missile system used by several NATO countries to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles and medium-range tactical ballistic missiles. According to CNN, it is unclear how many Patriot batteries will be delivered to Ukraine.
Ukraine, attacked by Russia, continues to push for better air defenses. The US is already supplying Ukraine with several missile launchers of the type HIMARS (photo below) or the air defense system NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System). Thanks to its range, the Patriot system could significantly improve the defense capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
Washington announced further military aid
Just last week, the US government announced millions in additional military aid to defend against Russia. Since the beginning of US President Joe Biden’s term in office in early 2021, military aid to Kiev from the US has so far reached US$20 billion (nearly €18.8 billion).
In late November, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said before a meeting with his NATO colleagues in Bucharest that patriots were “among the most urgent” given Russia’s attacks on his country’s infrastructure. Poland had previously called on the German government to make the Patriot system available to Ukraine for this purpose.
In March, Patriots moved to Poland
In March, in view of the war in Ukraine, the US moved two Patriot missile systems from Germany to Poland as a precaution. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby emphasized at the time that the move was not caused by any specific event or action by the Russians. But given the war, the Patriots are best suited to defend NATO territory, he says.
So far, Ukraine has mainly deployed Soviet anti-aircraft systems, but also some Western-style systems. The American companies Raytheon and Lockheed have been developing the Patriot air defense since the 1960s, then under the designation SAM-D.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
