FAQ
Status: 12/21/2022 1:52 p.m
Ukraine should get the Patriot system. What can the US anti-aircraft system – and could it change Russia’s war against Ukraine? The most important questions and answers.
It’s about protecting the civilian population and protecting the infrastructure: Ukraine urgently needs air defense systems against the intensive bombardment of its cities by the Russian army. This demand has been raised again and again by Ukrainian politicians and with increasing intensity in recent weeks. Her focus is primarily on the American Patriot system.
NATO was hesitant to take such a step for a long time, and the Ukrainian request also caused disputes between individual members of the alliance. This is probably mainly due to the precision and range of the system, which would significantly increase Ukraine’s defense capability.
How long has the Patriot system been around?
The Patriot system is equally proven and state-of-the-art. The Institute for Strategic Studies (CSIS) calls it the “workhorse” of US air defenses in a recent publication. The name is an abbreviation and stands for “Phrased Array Tracking Radar for Intecept on Target”.
The development of the surface-to-air missile system dates back to the late 1960s, it was introduced in the early 1980s, and it has been continuously modernized since then.
What distinguishes the Patriot system?
It is used to ward off aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range missiles. It is manufactured by US defense contractors Raytheon and Lockheed. It was first used in the 1990s in the First Iraq War and then from 2003 in the Second Iraq War.
The system consists of several mobile components. A ground radar detects enemy flying objects at a great distance. A control station, which monitors the entire airspace, calculates the trajectory of enemy flying objects, programs its own missiles and coordinates their launch. The rocket launcher itself is mounted on heavy transport vehicles and has up to eight rocket launchers. The required electricity comes from another vehicle with generators.
Distributing the individual components across several vehicles has the advantage that the system cannot be switched off in one fell swoop. However, its structure is also more complicated than that of a more compact system.
To date, 18 nations have purchased the Patriot system or are considering doing so in the near future. The Bundeswehr also has Patriot missiles.
How soon could the Patriot system be deployed?
That is still unclear, in some reports the coming February is mentioned. However, the training on the system for soldiers and technicians is complex and, depending on the activity, designed for many months. According to CSIS, courses for repairs, for example, last 53 weeks – more than a year.
However, it is not known whether Ukrainian soldiers are already being trained in the use of the Patriot system – this could lead to faster deployment.
What would a delivery mean for Ukraine?
Ukraine is hoping for a significant boost in its air defenses from the Patriot anti-missile missiles. In recent weeks, the Russian army has massively expanded its attacks on the country’s civilian infrastructure, causing large parts of the country to suffer from power outages.
However, US military experts doubt that the use of the Patriot systems would be a “game changer” and would decisively alter the course of the war. The AP news agency quotes unnamed military experts as saying that the Patriot missiles have a long range but can only cover a small area. A city like Kyiv could therefore not be completely shielded.
There is another factor: the cost. The CSIS puts the cost of a battery at up to $1.1 billion – around $400 million for the system and around $690 million for the missiles. This makes the Patriot systems the most expensive weapons system that the United States has made available to Ukraine.
This high cost is also likely to limit the use of the Patriot systems. A rocket that costs millions to use against comparatively cheaply produced drones would probably make little sense. It is therefore more likely that the Patriot missiles would primarily protect sensitive facilities in Ukraine.
What does Russia say about this?
Russia described a Patriot delivery as another provocative step by the United States that will have consequences. Patriot systems would then be a legitimate target for Russian missile strikes.
How does the US argue?
The USA rejects this interpretation and emphasizes the defensive character of the defense systems. However, Washington had long hesitated to comply with the Ukrainian demand. There could be several reasons for this. If a Patriot missile hits Russian territory – whether it is aimed or misguided – Russia could portray this as an escalation of the war – with unforeseeable consequences. However, there is no known recent example of Patriot missiles significantly missing their intended targets.
The US military may also have looked at the consequences for its own air defense. The US and NATO as a whole reduced their anti-aircraft capabilities in the decades following the end of the Cold War, as they no longer recognized a specific need. Aid to Ukraine has already significantly reduced the inventory of anti-aircraft missiles. That is why the NATO countries always take their own defense capabilities into account in their debates. The US currently has 15 Patriot systems. The CSIS therefore sees the provision of a system primarily as a symbolic gesture intended to underline the willingness of the USA to continue to provide massive help to Ukraine.