There are still only a few Patriot systems in Ukraine. (Archive photo) © Pawel Supernak/dpa
Ukraine is suffering from massive Russian air strikes. Now Kiev wants to create a "Patriot coalition" to receive a variety of these US anti-aircraft systems.
Kyiv - For several weeks now, Russia has been relying primarily on air strikes in the Ukraine war. Again and again, the Russian military attacks Ukraine massively with dozens of missiles and cruise missiles. Most recently, Russian air strikes had shaken the Ukrainian capital Kyiv even in broad daylight. Until then, most attacks occurred mostly at night or in the early hours of the morning. At one time, Ukraine recorded the number of 54 kamikaze drones fired. There were dead and injured - including children.
In order to defend itself against these attacks, Ukraine is currently trying to forge a so-called "patriot coalition", analogous to the "fighter jet coalition". At the European summit in Moldova in early June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his allies to provide support with Patriot anti-ship missiles. In addition to modern fighter jets, military support for Ukraine now also depends on a Patriot coalition that puts an end to Russian blackmail through ballistic missiles, Zelenskyy said at the meeting in front of almost 50 heads of state and government at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca.
Defense against Russia: Ukraine strives for "Patriot coalition"
In a video message on June 5, Zelensky then reaffirmed his goal of creating a "Patriot coalition" to obtain a variety of these US anti-aircraft systems with the help of several states. In this way, life and freedom in Ukraine could be effectively protected against attacks from Russia. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Zelensky recently called for 50 of these systems. So far, according to the US television channel CNN, there are only two Patriot systems in the country. They had been successfully used against the massive Russian drone and missile attacks.
"Of course, this is a very ambitious goal," said Colonel Yuri Ihnat, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, according to the Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda. "But we will definitely strive for it." According to the report, the Patriot anti-aircraft systems are intended to replace the old Soviet weapons in the long term. "We will gradually strengthen our air defense."
Patriot fights aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles
The Patriot system ("Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target") is one of the most modern air defense systems in the world. Enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles are fought with it. At a distance of about 100 kilometers and up to altitudes of 30 kilometers, the defense missiles can hit targets in an imaginary bell around the position - depending on the guided missile used. The mobile launch station is reminiscent of large trucks and contains up to four launch containers. According to the US military, a total of up to 16 defensive missiles can be loaded, depending on the configuration.
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Using a radar, the Patriot system first classifies flying objects in the sky into the categories of friend and foe. In the event of a threat, soldiers in the control room fire the guided missiles to render the attackers' objects harmless. Up to 50 possible targets can be monitored at the same time, and up to five can be actively fought. (cs/dpa
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