More US Patriot missile interceptors from Israel, Europe bound for Ukraine: report

New York Post

05-05-2025

More US Patriot missile interceptors will be taken out of storage in Israel and Europe and sent to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian strikes, according to a new report.
One Patriot defense system was shipped off from the Jewish state in recent days to be refurbished for Kyiv's use, with Western allies looking to deliver another battery of the weapons from Germany or Greece, the New York Times reported.
The delivery and promise of more of the defense weapons comes after Israel sent off about 90 Patriot launchers earlier this year, although most of those are still being refurbished in Poland and have yet to make it to Ukraine.
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4 Patriot surface-to-air missile defense systems arrived in Poland in January to be refurbished for use in Ukraine.
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4 Kyiv's defense systems are struggling to intercept the sheer number of missiles and drones Russia has been firing across the border.
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The Patriot defense system, which the US initially gave to Israel more than 30 years ago during the first Gulf War, is a mobile interceptor surface-to-air missile system that targets and destroys enemy rocket fire before it hits its intended target.
The Patriot system was eventually replaced by Israel's own missile defense set-ups, including the Iron Dome and Arrow, leaving the American-made launchers and batteries officially decommissioned in April 2024.
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A Patriot system costs around $1 billion to build and about 90 soldiers to operate, with an estimated 186 of them believed to be in operation across the globe in areas of conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky long sought to get a hold of the Patriots to aid his nation, with a deal finalized in September 2024 between Kyiv, Washington and Jerusalem.
4 The Patriot consists of mobile units equipped with interceptor missiles.
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While Kyiv currently has eight of the systems, only six are up and running and have been used so far, mostly to protect the capital as the Kremlin ramps up its attacks on Kyiv.
Zelensky has continued to seek more Patriot systems in Ukraine, telling President Trump that Kyiv is 'ready to purchase the necessary number of Patriot systems for our country.'
The plea came after Russia launched its deadliest attack on Kyiv on April 24, killing 13 people and injuring nearly 90 others. Russian strikes have only ramped up since the US-led peace talks began in February.
4 About 90 Patriots arrived in Poland to be refurbished for Ukraine this year.
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Given the sheer number of missiles and drones that Russia is capable of firing at once, Ukraine's defenses often struggle to intercept all the attacks, Kyiv officials said.
Experts also believe that Russia's increased intensity of attacks is meant to deplete Ukraine's already hemorrhaging air defense ammo.
Even if Kyiv gets the systems it needs, the equipment may not have a 100% success rate in fending off Russia's bombardment, as evident by the latest issue with Israel's more advanced defense system.
The Jewish state saw not only its Arrow but also the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system fail when a Houthi rocket struck near the Gen Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday, the Times of Israel reported.