Ukrainian military adopts new tactics for Patriot systems, report says
Photo: Patriot (wikimedia.org)
Yehor Cherniev, deputy head of the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, said Ukraine is forced to conserve missiles for Patriot systems, according to Business Insider.
New Patriot tactics
Ukrainian forces have begun moving away from the traditional air defense doctrine when using Patriot systems.
According to a unit commander, instead of the standard launch of two to four interceptor missiles at a single target, crews are increasingly limiting themselves to just one missile. This decision is driven by ammunition shortages and the need to preserve resources.
Reasons for the shift
Cherniev said Ukraine is facing a shortage of interceptor missiles, forcing it to use existing stockpiles as efficiently as possible.
He noted that Ukrainian forces are effectively operating Patriot systems in a more manual mode, without relying on automation to increase the effectiveness of each launch.
Limited resources and high cost
The MIM-104 Patriot remains the most advanced system in Ukraine’s air defense. Interceptor missiles, including PAC-3, cost around $4 million per unit.
Amid constant attacks and limited supplies, even firing one additional missile is seen as a significant strain on resources.
Scale of the threat and need for resupply
Russian attacks often involve hundreds of missiles and drones, putting additional pressure on Ukraine’s air defense system.
Missed targets strike infrastructure and residential areas. Kyiv regularly appeals to allies to increase missile supplies, but demand for them remains high worldwide.
Ukraine’s experience and lessons for NATO
Ukraine’s experience is already being studied by its allies. NATO emphasizes the importance of mobility and camouflage of air defense batteries, as well as maintaining sufficient interceptor stockpiles.
Cherniev stressed that in the event of a large-scale conflict, NATO countries may also face the need to conserve resources and revise their protocols.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held talks with his counterparts from Belgium and Spain, during which the sides agreed on key areas of cooperation ahead of the next Ramstein meeting.
It is also worth noting that the Pentagon signed its largest $4.7 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to accelerate production of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
