Israeli Patriot air defense systems operate in Ukraine, according to Zelensky

Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Israeli MIM-104 Patriot air defense batteries have been operating in Ukraine since August.

According to the Ukrainian leader, Israeli Patriots have been helping fend off the hundreds of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and suicide drones that Russia is hurling against Ukrainian urban centers and critical infrastructure.

“An Israeli Patriot missile defense battery has been operating in Ukraine for a month. Two more batteries will arrive this fall. Let’s leave it at that. I can’t say anything more about the Patriot systems,” Zelensky said during a press conference.

Israel denied Zelensky’s claims, stating that it returned the weapon systems to the U.S., which then provided them to Ukraine. Nevertheless, if that is the case, the trail of transfer is not as significant as the transfer itself. Overall, Israel has been hesitant to provide military aid to Ukraine.

Although exact numbers are elusive due to certain secrecy behind transfers and the need to ensure operational security, the Ukrainian Air Force – which is responsible for the country’s air defense – has received approximately eight MIM-104 Patriot systems (three from the U.S., two from Germany, one from Germany and the Netherlands, one from Romania, and, now, one from Israel). In addition to the MIM-104, Ukraine operates the IRIS-T and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) air defense systems.

The Ukrainians have put their Patriots to good use, shooting down Russian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, suicide drones, and aircraft. Moreover, the U.S.-made system has distinguished itself from other air defense systems for its ability to intercept Russian high-speed and ballistic munitions.

Ukraine’s Patriot saga

Soon after the war started, the U.S. and the other allies of Ukraine realized that the eastern European country’s air defenses were not up to par to deal with Russia’s extensive ballistic and cruise missile arsenal.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin realized that their “special military operation” in Ukraine would last more than three days or two weeks (as they had initially believed) and saw Russian military casualties mounting, they resorted to a change of strategy. Missiles and, increasingly, suicide drones became a weapon of choice to force Ukraine to capitulate.

It was not until the spring of 2023 that the Ukrainian Air Force started operating its first MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems, as it took more than a year for the United States to clear the transfer of the missile system.

As the manufacturer of the air defense weapon, the U.S. must clear any transfer to a third country, even if the missile system has been purchased and belongs to another country. For example, if Greece – another operator of the system – wanted to transfer some of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine, it would need to get the green light from the Pentagon and State Department. Thus, the U.S. knew and cleared the transfer of Patriot batteries from Israel to Ukraine.

As Ukraine continues to be under large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks, the addition of more Patriot air defense systems offers much needed help.

Feature Image: A MIM-104 Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile System assigned to the Fort Bliss, Texas-based 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade fires as part of a bi-lateral live-fire exercise with military members from the Royal Netherlands Ground-based Air Defense Command at McGregor Range, N.M., May 11, 2024. The Patriot Missile System is a highly mobile air defense guided missile system designed to engage and intercept any aerial threats whether it be aircraft or tactical ballistic missiles under any weather conditions and in natural or induced environments. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Rincon)

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