Cross another item off the Ukrainian weapons wish-list.
. The number and variant of the system have not been disclosed yet, and the supply still needs to be signed off by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Biden, although their consent, in light of the press leaks, is considered to be a formality.
The “PAC 2” versions of the Patriot are the most capable long-range surface-to-air missiles in the NATO arsenal, with a 99-mile range against aircraft and cruise missiles. The smaller “PAC 3” variants have a far shorter 19-mile range; they are almost entirely designed to intercept ballistic missiles. A combination of both types is typically used to defend American military installations against any possible aerial threat.
While it is unclear which variant of the Patriot system will be given to Kyiv, a major question arises if it’s the PAC 2: Will it have any form of “geo-blocking” that could prevent the Ukrainians from targeting aircraft flying in Russian airspace? A senior official from a NATO member-state told Yahoo News that Washington’s technical limitations on the HIMARS was more of a public relations exercise than a severe logistical handicap. “It’s designed to signal to the Russians, and to a number of wobbly European countries, that American strategic weapons aren’t going to be used to whack Russia.”
Ukraine has reportedly used American-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, for instance, to hit air defense targets in Belgorod, the Russian oblast north of Kharkiv. The Pentagon never explicitly acknowledged sending these missiles as part of any U.S. aid package to Ukraine, and only confirmed their use in the field after wreckage of HARM batteries, recovered in Russia, circulated on Russian social media.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine official says American citizen Suedi Murekezi released in Ukraine-Russia prisoner swapMurekezi was reportedly arrested in June in the city of Kherson on charges of “inciting ethnic hatred” for protesting against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »
American Suedi Murekezi freed from Russian-controlled territory by Ukrainian military intelligenceAmerican Suedi Murekezi has just been freed from Russian-controlled territory by a team from Ukraine’s military intelligence and is now being driven to Kyiv.
Read more »
American freed from Russian-controlled territory by Ukrainian intelligenceAmerican Suedi Murekezi has just been freed from Russian-controlled territory by a team from Ukraine's military intelligence and is now being driven to Kyiv.
Read more »
Ukraine live briefing: U.S. sends power supplies to Ukraine; Washington to discuss Whelan with MoscowA U.S. shipment of power equipment worth $13 million was on its way to Ukraine on Tuesday, with a handover expected in Poland. Meanwhile, U.S. officials will engage with Russia this week on efforts to free Paul Whelan. Follow our live coverage.
Read more »
Ukraine to get advanced American air defensesCross another item off the Ukrainian weapons wish list. Washington is on the verge of supplying advanced Patriot MIM-104 surface-to-air missile systems to Kyiv, according to multiple U.S. officials quoted by CNN and Reuters.
Read more »