A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Jan 29, 2025

The US Has Transferred 90 Patriot Missiles From Israel To Ukraine

The US has shipped 90 Patriot missile systems from Israel to Ukraine, significantly enhancing Ukrainian air defenses. 

The shipment, initially negotiated under the Biden Administration, further signals Israel's anger with Russia over the latter's support for the October 2023 Hamas on Israel and for the Kremlin's arming of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The transfer suggests that Israel no longer believes it needs the Patriots since it has degraded both Hamas' and Hezbollah's military capabilities and because it has subsequently received updated Patriot systems from the US. JL 

Rojoef Manuel reports in The Defense Post:

The US has shipped 90 Patriot air defense systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces sourced from the American military’s stockpile stored in Israeli territory. parts of the donation to Ukraine incorporated units decommissioned by the Israel Defense Forces last April. September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a project that would send back the used Patriots to the US for refurbishment before their transfer to Ukraine.

The US has shipped approximately 90 Patriot air defense systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces amidst the country’s conflict with Russia.

The capabilities were sourced from the American military’s stockpile stored in Israeli territory, according to Virginia-based news agency Axios.

Delivery involved several US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft that collected the weapons from a southern Israeli air base.

The fleet landed in Rzeszów, Eastern Poland where primary military and humanitarian assistance deliveries pass through into Ukraine.

For Kharkiv’s Defense

Washington’s plan to send Patriot systems to Kyiv surfaced in June 2024 as the Biden administration’s response to a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

During that time, the Ukrainian government said it needed the capability to bolster firepower, particularly in the eastern Kharkiv region.

Ex-Israeli Systems Included

The latest update noted that parts of the donation to Ukraine incorporated units decommissioned by the Israel Defense Forces last April.

By September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a project that would send back the used Patriots to the US for refurbishment before their transfer to Ukraine.

German Patriots in Poland

Days before the American package to Ukraine, Germany stationed its own Patriot air defense systems in Rzeszów, further securing passage of aid and equipment to the war-torn country.

Additionally, Berlin will couple the ground-based firepower with air policing and in-flight refueling missions in Poland.

0 comments:

Post a Comment