By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
The US and Israel reportedly are discussing a plan to send more much-needed Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine.
As many as eight of the systems could be shipped to Ukraine, according to the Wall Street Journal, at a time when the government there is desperate for more air-defense weapons. It’s been reported that Ukraine has four Patriots.
Last week, the Biden administration said it would temporarily halt the deliveries of Patriot and NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) interceptors to overseas customers other than Ukraine and Taiwan. The US called the move necessary to “ensure Ukraine’s survival.”
Russia recently has stepped up missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, and more of the missiles are said to have been making it through air defenses. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his military needs at least seven more Patriot systems.
Officially, the Israeli Patriot batteries have been on loan from the US. In April, the Israel Defense Forces said the weapons would soon be retired. Israel primarily relies on its Iron Dome system for short-range missile defense. It also has the long-range Arrow and the medium-range David’s Sling.
According to CNN, if an agreement is reached, the Israeli-based Patriots would likely be sent to the US for refurbishment before being shipped to Ukraine.
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A deal would mark a turning point for Israel in its relationship with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The Israeli government has condemned the invasion of Ukraine, but it has been reluctant to send Kyiv weapons to keep from upsetting Moscow. Putin warned Israel that a weapons deal with Kyiv would destroy relations between the two countries.
The Wall Street Journal says there’s another potential roadblock. Israel could end up needing the Patriots if open warfare breaks out with Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon.
The Patriot has been in service since 1984, and was acclaimed during the 2003 Gulf war for knocking down Iraqi missiles. It has a range of about 100 miles and uses the PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, which are equipped with high-tech guidance and control systems that enable them to maneuver toward and destroy incoming targets.
Ukraine received the first of its Patriot batteries last year. They have been used to shoot down a number of Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, along with at least one A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The Patriot, in conjunction with NASAMS, is also credited with shooting down as many as four Su-34 fighter-bombers. That’s a switch for the Patriot, which has typically been engineered to intercept ballistic missiles flying with a parabola-type trajectory.
But there have been recent upgrades to enable the system to hit maneuvering cruise missiles, which suggests that the Patriot now also has the capability to shoot down aircraft.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is on the verge of receiving the first of 85 US-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and Denmark. The planes could play a number of roles, such as attacking air defenses and supply lines. Ukraine also seems to be counting on them to protect border areas from Russian KAB glide bombs, which can be launched from aircraft up to 40 miles away from a target.
