Ukrainian military to master Patriot air defense system very quickly – UA Air Force
Ukrainian specialists will be trained to work with Patriot missile systems as soon as possible.
Rubryka reports, referring to Air Force spokesman Colonel Yurii Ihnat on the air of the national telethon on January 5.
"The training of our specialists also takes place in the shortest possible time.
If it is technically possible to bring them (Patriot systems – ed.) to Ukraine and, put them on combat duty, enter them into the Air Force, then the experts at that time will also be prepared.
This is shown by the experience with the same Iris-T and NASAMS when specialists needed several weeks to prepare. Maybe training on the Patriot will take a little longer," the colonel emphasized.
Ihnat expressed hope that the process of updating the Ukrainian air defense system will continue.
The next step is a multi-purpose aircraft, without which it will be challenging to face the current challenges, the Air Force spokesman emphasized.
According to the colonel, transferring F-16 fighters to Ukraine will be a massive step toward Ukraine's victory.
On January 4, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba announced that the American Patriot system would be deployed in Ukraine as soon as possible. According to the minister, preparations for transferring these systems have already begun.
Kuleba thanked the USA, Germany, Norway, and France for the already adopted decisions. He also noted that the state is working on speeding up similar decisions from them and other countries.
According to the minister, Ukraine is interested in additional anti-aircraft ініеуьі such as Gepard, Vulcan; MANPADS like Stinger and others.
Reference
Later, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially announced a new military aid package for Ukraine for $1.85 billion. This package also provides for the Patriot air defense system.
As Blinken explained, the new aid package will consist of $1 billion in funding from President Joe Biden's executive order and another $850 million from the Pentagon.
The list of military aid includes:
- one Patriot system;
- 500 high-precision 155-mm artillery shells;
- 45, 000 152-mm artillery shells;
- 20,000 122-mm artillery shells;
- 100,000 125-mm tank ammunition;
- 30 mortar systems of various calibers;
- 37 armored vehicles "Cougar" (MRAP);
- 120 HMMWV light tactical off-road armored vehicles;
- night vision devices;
- satellite terminals and their maintenance, etc.
