Air defense is being strengthened: the sky over Ukraine will be protected by 7 Patriot systems
Despite the transfer of modern weapons from Western partners and its own efforts to ensure air defense, the sky over Ukraine is far from completely closed. There are gaps that need to be filled. The situation is especially acute at the moment in Kharkiv Oblast, where regular attacks by the Russian army lead to destruction and casualties among civilians.
Patriot systems are powerful enough weapons for air defense. The more such systems, the more effective the protection of the airspace over Ukraine. The seventh Patriot system will soon arrive in Ukraine.
Given the lack of air defense systems, the country’s leadership recently proposed an innovative solution – to assemble a joint Patriot system with the efforts of several states. The Netherlands has already contributed by providing one radar and three launchers, and has promised to bring in allies to complete the system.
Subsequently, the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kaisa Ollongren, confirmed that the Patriot system for Ukraine is ready and will soon join the Security and Defense Forces. This will happen after her term ends on July 1, when the new government formed after the election takes office.
Taking into account the transferred and announced deliveries, Ukraine will have seven Patriot systems at its disposal. In particular, 3 air defense systems are transferred by Germany and one Patriot is provided by the Netherlands, Romania, and the United States. The Netherlands will transfer the latest air defense system together with an unnamed partner state. This is exactly the “air defense system assembled in parts.”
However, even seven Patriots are not enough to protect such a large area.
“We are grateful to every partner and ally, because every such complex is really the saved lives of Ukrainians. However, 7 systems is a minimum, considering the size of our state and the continuation of systematic missile terror by Russia. To reliably close the sky, we need more, and we we hope that we will be heard” – emphasizes Danylo Hetmantsev, People’s Deputy, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy.
