Ukraine, USA | If Zelensky’s wish list is fulfilled, that’s bad news for Putin’s pilots

– It is an air defense system with a long range of 160 kilometers, Lars Peder Haga tells Netavisen. He is an associate professor at the Norwegian Air Force School, and talks about the Patriot system.

Patriot is an air defense system developed by the Americans Politico Zelensky is expected to return home from Washington, D.C., with at least one Patriot system and possibly more in his luggage, as part of a new $2 billion military aid package, just under NOK 20 billion.

At around 18:00 on Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reported that Zelensky would get the system he wanted.

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Long-term

Before, the air defense system developed by the Norwegian NASAMS had already been delivered to Ukraine, a system that had been put into operation in Ukraine with great success. According to Haga, the Patriot system is a slightly different system that performs a different role than NASAMS.

The Patriot has a longer range of 160 km. That is, it performs the same role as the Soviet S300 system, which Ukraine is already using against Russian fighter jets and cruise missiles, Haga says.

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The problem with the S300 system is that Russia is producing new missiles, and they naturally do not want to sell them to Ukraine. Thus, the Ukrainians at some point shoot themselves point blank.

– Ukraine is counting on the introduction of a new long-range system that can replace the S300, and Latriot has a role in this. It reaches far and high, Haga explains, forcing Russian fighter jets to fly low, and thus within range of other air defense systems, such as NASAMS.

The Patriot system can also be used to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles, NASAMS cannot.

– It is very difficult to shoot down such missiles, they come at supersonic speed, and they land almost vertically. You can use the Patriot to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles, but as I understand it, you have to use the system for either one or the other, says Haga.

So a Patriot battery cannot be tuned to shoot down both combat aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles at the same time.

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new tool

– When the system is used against tactical ballistic missiles, it has a shorter range. If Ukrainians have things they want to protect well, Patriot will be a new tool. As far as I know, Ukrainian S300 systems cannot be used against tactical ballistic missiles, says Haga.

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He is not sure how many Patriot systems are available and ready to be sent to Ukraine on short notice. The Ukrainians also desperately need more combat aircraft, but so far it does not seem that the West is ready to provide the Ukrainian Air Force with more aircraft.

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– Ukraine is losing and exhausting its aircraft. Even old, non-airworthy planes will help the Ukrainians, because they can be used as aircraft parts, says Haga.

During the visit to Washington, Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation are also expected to demand the delivery of ATACMS from the USA. It is a long range artillery with a range of 30 miles. Before, Ukraine received HIMARS from the USA, which has a range of 7-8 miles. Himars was an important contributor to Ukraine’s ability to push the Russian army back from Kherson in November.

With the weapon system’s range, the Ukrainians were able to strike the Russians’ logistical lines in Kherson, forcing them to retreat to the eastern side of the Dnipro River.

– ATACMS will give the Ukrainians greater ability to strike the Russian rear areas, which they have already had great success with, Lars Peder Haga tells Nettavisen.

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