Ukraine needs to improve its air defenses and the Patriot missile systems are a great addition. Ukraine has already received the first Patriot systems, but, as reported by the Financial Times, they are probably not operational yet.
German Patriot missile launcher. Image credit: Boevaya mashina via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Ukraine will receive Patriot missile systems from the US, Germany, and the Netherlands. They should constitute two full batteries and a bit (the Netherlands, it seems like, will not send a radar). This is huge, having in mind how Russia launches constant attacks against the Ukrainian infrastructure. On the other hand, these Patriot launchers will become desirable targets for the Russian forces, which is why their deliveries will be made in secrecy.
Financial Times said that it is believed that Ukraine already received the first of the promised Patriot systems, but it was not pushed to service yet.
Of course, nothing is for certain – when the matter is so sensitive, even the words of policy makers shouldn’t be taken for granted. At this moment there hasn’t been any confirmation that Ukraine is already in possession of Patriot launchers or complete systems.
How would it be possible for Ukraine to have Patriot missile systems, but not have them operational? Well, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov has previously stated that Ukrainian crews will need at least 10 weeks of training to be able to utilize the Patriot systems.
The training is not being carried out in Ukraine, which means that those crews are somewhere else – in countries that are providing the training. Regardless, it started in January, which means that at the very earliest the first Ukrainian Patriot system crews will be ready at the end of March.
Ukraine will retain secrecy when it comes to the deliveries and deployment of the Patriot missile systems. One reason, as stated above, is to reduce the risk that the Russian forces will identify the location of these systems and will attempt to destroy them.
The other one is that they could catch unsuspecting Russian aircraft. Areas that were considered somewhat safe for them will now be covered in doubt and fear. Because the Patriots will be there and Russian forces will not know where.
In the future, the number of Patriot batteries in Ukraine might grow. Ukraine still needs to strengthen its air defenses and Patriot might be one of the best ways to do that.
Source: Defence-ua.com
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