The Patriot is the primary kind of surface-to-air missile system used by the USA and allied nations. The USA had ruled out the transfer of Patriots to Ukraine in mid-March, claiming that US troops are needed to operate them. File photo: Wikipedia
(Updated)Today, the White House has announced a significant new package of $1.8d billion of security assistance for Ukraine, which will contain a Patriot missile battery, State Secretary Anthony Blinken informed.
“Today’s assistance for the first time includes the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of bringing down cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air defense systems,” State Secretary Anthony Blinken said.
A Patriot missile battery includes eight launchers. Patriots can shoot down ballistic missiles, which is a capability Ukraine’s air defense currently lacks. Ukraine desperately needs to strengthen its air defense system in the face of Russian massive missile strikes.
Patriot air defense system “will be a critical asset to defend the Ukrainian people against Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. We will train Ukrainian forces on how to operate the Patriot missile battery in a third country. This will take some time, but Ukrainian troops will take that training back to their country to operate this battery. And we will continue to prioritize other forms of air defense support as well, including NASAMS, HAWKs, Stingers, and counter-UAV equipment,” the White House announced in the official statement on 20 December 2022.
State Secretary Anthony Blinken stated that he is authorizing tbe United States’ 28th drawdown of arms and equipment for Ukraine since August 2021.
“This $1 billion drawdown will provide Ukraine with expanded air defense and precision-strike capabilities, as well as additional munitions and critical equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself on the battlefield,” he stated.
The Department of Defense is also announcing an additional $850 million of security assistance for Ukraine today under its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Apart from military aid, a package of more than $40 billion of funding for Ukraine for 2023 will be passed by the US Congress, according to the White House.
Russia continues launching missile barrages and kamikaze drones to destroy critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and cut millions of Ukrainians off from water supply, electricity, and heating during the cold winter. Currently, almost half of the Ukrainian energy system is out of order due to Russian missile strikes, according to Ukraine’s PM Denys Shmyhal.
Related:
- Ukraine needs air defense, tanks and production lines – Ukraine FM
- Time to give Ukraine ‘shield’ (air defense) and ‘sword’ (long-range missiles) – Estonian FM
- Russia uses Iranian drones to target Ukraine’s energy system
- Electricity supply to 6 million Ukrainians restored during the day – Zelenskyy
- Ukraine’s air defense improved fourfold since start of Russian invasion
Tags: #USAarmUkraine, aid for Ukraine, air defense, Russian missile attacks
