Patriot missiles used in Middle East could have lasted Ukraine several years - Air Force
Photo: Patriot air defense system (Getty Images)
Ukraine could have had enough Patriot missiles to last several years if a significant portion of the interceptors had not been used in the Middle East. At the same time, combat experience has helped Ukraine’s Armed Forces change how they use them, states Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, in RBC-Ukraine’s TSE BAZA podcast.
He explained that Ukrainian troops have changed their approach to using American systems over the course of the full-scale war. In particular, they have learned to use Patriot in various tactical situations and conserve expensive interceptor missiles more efficiently.
How Ukraine has changed its tactics for using Patriot
According to Ihnat, Ukraine’s experience with Patriot differs significantly from the approaches used by other countries. One example is the ability to use the system not only from fixed positions but also for ambushes, followed by relocation.
"For example, Patriot can be used not as a stationary system, as the Americans keep it at airfields or bases, but, so to speak, as a ‘roving' system: set up an ambush, shoot down five aircraft, and return undamaged," the Air Force spokesperson explained.
He also mentioned an incident in Russia’s Bryansk region, citing it as an example of the capabilities of Ukrainian troops when using American air defense systems.
Why a missile shortage emerged
Another difference concerns ammunition expenditure. According to Ihnat, Ukrainian crews have learned to use one missile against one target, whereas in the Middle East, in some cases, as many as eight interceptors could be launched simultaneously.
He explained that Patriot has three operating modes: automatic, semi-automatic, and manual.
According to him, in automatic mode, the system can launch a large number of interceptors. As a result, without the relevant combat experience, crews could fire an entire salvo of missiles from a launcher at a single target.
"Due to their lack of such experience, they could fire an entire salvo of interceptor missiles from a launcher at a single Shahed drone or ballistic missile," Ihnat added.
In his assessment, the number of missiles used in the Middle East could have been enough to keep Ukraine’s systems operating for several years.
"That is why we are now facing the crisis we are in, because what was expended in the Middle East would have been enough for several more years of combat operations with Patriot systems," Ihnat concluded.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine receives only 12 missiles for Patriot systems per month — approximately four times fewer than under the administration of Joe Biden. According to the president, the US has yet to approve some deliveries that Kyiv has already paid for.
Zelenskyy also warned that Russia could intensify its ballistic missile attacks due to the shortage of interceptors. Ukraine is negotiating with European partners to obtain missiles, but their transfer requires US approval.
