After a certain false start with the report that Ukraine has already received the first battery of the Patriot SAM system, which was published by the Spanish La Razon with reference to the words of the Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak, a next report on the theme appeared in a Western media again.
The authoritative Financial Times, in a rather voluminous article devoted to the strikes on Ukraine by russian Kh-47 Kinzhal missiles during an attack on the night of March 9, noted:
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"Ukraine is understood to have received one of two Patriot air defence systems promised by the US and Germany, but it is not yet operational. It is also expecting some Patriot launchers from the Netherlands."
Thus, we should immediately note that the publication does not claim that Ukraine has already physically received the Patriot, but only assumes. At the same time, it is noted that even if the Armed Forces of Ukraine already have this air defense system at their disposal, it has not yet been deployed, that is, its presence does not change anything.
Such a situation is of course possible, but objectively illogical, because keeping the systems undeployed is a rather strange decision considering the need for them. We should also note that according to the announced terms of training of Ukrainian operators, which began in January, they will last 10 weeks, as reported by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov. That is, the training course should be completed only at the end of March.
By this time, it is of course possible to transfer the systems themselves to Ukraine, but there is no particular sense in this, because in the ideal scenario they will simply be in some deep storage. And such an option objectively will not save a lot of time compared to the scenario when the air defense systems themselves are simply waiting on the territory of one of the NATO countries near the border with Ukraine.
It is also necessary to understand that the very deployment of the Patriot should not be an announcement for the enemy, but a surprise. Because the Patriot, in addition to the ability to intercept ballistic missiles at a range of 60 km with MSE kinetic interceptors, also has the ability to use PAC-2 missiles. These anti-aircraft missiles are designed to intercept aerodynamic targets at ranges of about 160 km.
Taking into account the fact that the Russian aviation sometimes even in the front-line areas began to climb to significant heights, the unexpected and competent use of the Patriot may well come as a surprise to the russians where they previously felt absolutely safe.
UPD: The spokeperson of the Ukraine's Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, colonel Yuriy Ignat, made a statement. As Defense Express predicted, Ukraine hadn't received the Patriot SAM system yet.
"There is no system yet, I haven't seen," colonel Yuriy Ignat said.
As Defense Express reported, Ukrainian Air Force Shot Down russian Su-34 Long-Range Interdictor. We also reported on How Many russian Missiles And Iranian Kamikaze Drones Had Been Shot Down By Ukraine’s Military For Almost Six Months.
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