Patriot air defense system is already on combat duty in Ukraine

21 April, 2023 Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Mykola Oleschuk near the Patriot air defense system launcher in Ukraine. April 2023. Photo credits: Ukrainian Air Force

The Patriot air defense system is already on combat duty in Ukraine, Ukrainian Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk reported. A photo of the launcher with anti-aircraft missiles has been published on the web. The commander inspected combat positions of the Patriot air defense system in one sector.

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Patriot air defense system

He also thanked the Ukrainian soldiers who had completed their training much earlier than planned. "In the photo behind me there is a launcher of the Patriot air defense system, which is already on combat duty as part of Ukraine's air defense!" Ukrainian Air Force Commander said. He notes that, although in small numbers, Ukraine already has modern Western air defense systems, such as NASAMS, IRIS-T, Patriot, SAMP/T, Crotale, Gepard and others.

"For the promising Ukrainian air defense system to be finally complete, the Ukrainian Air Force needs the F-16!" Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk emphasizes. The Ukrainian Air Force promises to share more details regarding the use of the Patriot air defense system in Ukraine in due time. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has recently officially confirmed that the Patriot system is already in Ukraine.

He added that Ukrainian soldiers had mastered the Patriot air defense system as fast as they could.

Patriot air defense system of the German armed forces. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany

Air defense systems and their components arrived in Ukraine from the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. The air defense systems were transferred to Ukraine to defend against Russian air attacks.

According to Pentagon officials, Patriot systems will strengthen Ukraine's air defense, as they will allow shooting down, in particular, enemy's ballistic missiles and aircraft aimed at both troops and civilian targets.