What can Ukraine do with a ‘Patriot’ battery?
“Patriot” missile systems in disputed territories until now USA and any system from its allies. These systems in Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Ocean Iranprotects against potential strikes from countries such as Somalia and North Korea.
Last week USAabout the agreement to send a Patriot battery to Ukraine news the agenda has changed. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has been talking about the importance of strengthening his country’s air defense for months. USA officials have already confirmed that they have agreed to send “Patriot”, an official announcement is expected soon. “AP” writes with reference to experts that the effect of the battery in the war in Ukraine may be limited and may not change the course of the war.
Place-weather type “Patriot” were put into service for the first time in 1980s. They can target aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles.
The US Army currently has 16 Patriot battalions, with each battalion reportedly having 50 batteries. These systems are deployed in different countries of the world.
Director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Tom Karako says “Patriot” of Ukraine Iran production can help defend against ballistic missiles.
The agency writes that “Patriot” system and missiles have been continuously modified over the years. The price of the “Patriot” launcher 10 million, and the price of one interceptor missile is about 4 million dollars.
At such a price, it is smaller and cheaper than “Patriot”. Iran using to shoot down drones is not effective. Russia It is hitting Ukraine with these drones it bought from Iran.
“It is not efficient to shoot a $50,000 drone with a million-dollar missile,” – a retired Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser at CSIS Mark Kankian (Mark Cancian) says.
On the other hand, it can take up to 90 soldiers to operate and maintain a single Patriot battery. For months, the US has been reluctant to hand over this complex system to Ukraine because it would have to send forces.
There is also the possibility that the “Patriots” will provoke Russia, or that a missile fired from it will fall on Russia and incite a conflict. Just last week Russia The Foreign Ministry warned that the US plan is “another provocative step” and could provoke a reaction from Moscow.
The agency writes that the main obstacle at the moment is the issue of training. US soldiers use and maintain this system Ukraine will have to train his forces. Until now, the US Ukraine trained its forces on HIMARS systems. In many cases, the training period has been shortened.
A former military officer said the Patriot system would be effective against short-range ballistic missiles and would send a strong message of US support, but a single battery would not affect the course of the war.
However, a single Patriot battery can hit a long distance, but only cover a limited area. That is, a small one military protect the base effectively, but Kyiv cannot fully protect such a big city, it can only be effective in a part of it.
“Patriots” are usually deployed in the form of a battalion, that is, with four batteries. It is said that one battery will be given to Ukraine.
Experts say that the US statement about sending “Patriot” to Ukraine is more symbolic, a show of support for Ukraine.