Ukraine: What is the Patriot system-and why is it so important?

US President Donald Trump has announced that the Ukraine want to deliver several patriot air defense systems. Trump thus carried out a U -turn in his previous policy towards Kiev and Moscow, so far he had rejected additional arms deliveries to Ukraine. The patriot systems, the exact number of which was not mentioned, should therefore be paid by the European allies.

According to government, Germany is ready to finance two systems. A patriot system costs the equivalent of around 350 million euros. Another 3.5 million euros per defensive rocket are added to the ammunition.

Ukraine currently sees itself exposed to the heaviest Russian air raids since the beginning of the war. The attacks put the Ukrainian air defense to a tough test. President Wolodymyr Selenskyj repeatedly pushes the allies to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. In addition to the German system Iris-T, the Patriots are of particular importance.

The Patriot aircraft missile system has been around since the early 1980s. The United States describes it as its “most advanced” air defense system. The Bundeswehr has been in use since 1989. The U.S. manufacturer’s weapon system serves to combat larger destinations in air such as aircraft, drones, rockets and marching air bodies.

The floor-based patriot system is mobile, the launch ramps can be mounted on truck. A patriot battery can keep an eye on up to 50 destinations and combat five objects at the same time. According to the Bundeswehr, the range is around 68 kilometers.

The name “Patriot” is the abbreviation for the English name “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target” – in German: “Phase -controlled chase to intercept target objects”.

If the radar system recognizes a flight object, it is checked computer -supported whether it comes from friend or enemy. In an attack, approaching objects with a five -meter -long rockets of the system are fought. They are fired by up to eight associated starting devices that are mounted on truck. Each truck carries between four and eight rockets.

Germany delivered three patriot systems to Ukraine by April 17 of this year. Since this date, the Federal Government has only sporadically informed the public for tactical reasons about arms deliveries to Kyiv. In addition to the patriot defense systems, Germany has provided a large number of additional patriot steering aircraft for Ukraine.

According to the Kiel Institute for World Economy (IFW), Ukraine has received a total of eight patriot air defense systems from its allies: in addition to those from Germany three from the USA, one from the Netherlands and one of Romania. Selenskyj said in April that his country wanted to buy “at least ten” other patriot systems.

However, it is questionable whether the patriot systems can be delivered from US stocks or have to be ordered again. NATO boss Mark Rutte recently said that the delivery of a new system is currently ten years. Rutte and Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) traveled to Washington on Monday.