Germany delivers third Patriot system to Ukraine
Russia intensely attacks Ukraine from the air. Therefore, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is urging his country's partners for more air defense systems. Germany has around a dozen Patriot-Systems and is reportedly providing the third battery.
Ukraine has strengthened its air defense against Russian attacks. "The German Patriot has arrived," said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video address. Germany has made three Patriot air defense systems available to Ukraine, the third of which has reportedly declared readiness for action. "We will be able to do more in the sky," Zelenskyy added. "Of course, there is still a lot to do, and the protection is not yet guaranteed, but it is still a gain for Ukraine."
Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized in recent weeks that Ukraine needs more air defense systems for a comprehensive protection of its airspace. The numbers he mentioned for the required Patriot-Systems vary between six and 25. It is not clear how many systems have been delivered so far and whether they are all operational.
Germany currently has around a dozen Patriot-Systems. Since the beginning of the Russian armed attack in February 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly asked its allies for Patriot-Systems. Germany has so far delivered three.
Besides Patriot air defense systems, Germany, along with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, is reportedly making a "large number of additional Patriot missiles" available to Ukraine, according to the latest statements from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD).
Air Defense
The Patriot air defense system has been in existence since the early 1980s. The USA describe it as their "most advanced" air defense system. The Bundeswehr has used it since 1989. The air defense weapon system from the US manufacturer Raytheon is designed to counter larger targets in the air such as aircraft, drones, rockets, and missiles.
The ground-based Patriot system is mobile, and its launchers can be mounted on trucks. A Patriot battery can track up to 50 targets and engage five targets simultaneously. The range is approximately 68 kilometers according to the Bundeswehr.
The name "Patriot" is an abbreviation for the English term "Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target," in German: "Phasengesteuertes Verfolgungsradar zum Abfangen von Zielobjekten."
When the radar system detects an object, it is computer-assisted verified whether it is a friend or foe. In the event of an attack, incoming objects are engaged with five-meter-long missiles from the system. They are fired from up to eight associated launchers, which are mounted on trucks. Each truck carries between four and eight missiles.
Germany has been providing Ukraine with Patriot-Air Defense Systems in response to the ongoing attacks on Ukraine. President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the delivery of the third battery, stating, "The German Patriot has arrived." Furthermore, Germany, along with other countries, is reportedly providing a large number of additional Patriot missiles to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
