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 reported 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 still operational.
Germany currently has around a dozen Patriot systems. Since the beginning of the Russian attack war in February 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly asked its allies for the provision of Patriot systems. Germany has so far delivered three.
Besides the Patriot air defense systems, Germany, along with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, has reportedly made available "a large number of additional Patriot missile guidance bodies" for Ukraine.
Protection against attacking aircraft and rockets
The Patriot missile 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 weapon system of the US manufacturer Raytheon is designed to counter larger targets in the air such as aircraft, drones, rockets, and cruise missiles.
The ground-based Patriot system is mobile, the launchers can be mounted on trucks. A Patriot battery can keep up to 50 targets in view and engage five objects simultaneously. The range is approximately 68 kilometers according to the Bundeswehr.
The name "Patriot" is the abbreviation for the English term "Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target", in German: "Phased Array Guided Radar to Intercept Targets".
When the radar system detects an object, it is computer-assisted checked whether it is 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.
Ukraine has been relying heavily on its air defense systems to counter Russian attacks, with President Zelenskyy urging for more. Germany, with its Patriot-Air Defense System, has provided Ukraine with three batteries to strengthen their defenses. These systems can engage multiple targets simultaneously and have a range of approximately 68 kilometers.
