America Hesitates to Send More ‘Patriot’ to Ukraine — CIA Analyst

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The United States is reported to be hesitant to send more “Patriot” air defense systems to Ukraine after Russia’s hypersonic “Kinzhal” missile was claimed to have successfully destroyed the air defense system that protected the airspace over Kiev last May.

Speaking in YouTube, former CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) agent, Larry Johnson, stated that there is uncertainty at this time as to whether Washington will continue the delivery of “Patriot” air defense systems to Ukraine.

The uncertainty surrounding the delivery of the “Patriot” air defense system to Ukraine is being hotly debated by the international defense analyst community, according to Johnson.

He stated that the uncertainty stems from the success of Russia’s hypersonic “Kinzhal” cruise missile in destroying the “Patriot” air defense system, which were deployed to protect the airspace of the capital city, Kiev.

Washington is likely concerned that sending more “Patriot” air defense systems to Ukraine would result in their destruction by Russian cruise missiles if they continue to do so.

 

Because of this hesitancy, the United States has sent less effective air defense systems to Ukraine as a replacement for the Patriot.

“In recent months, we’ve heard less news about the Patriot air defense system. It was sent to Ukraine but was destroyed shortly thereafter. Whether it was destroyed or is being repaired, the Patriot system is currently not involved in the conflict,” he said.

“We (the United States) are sending air defense systems to Ukraine, but not Patriots,” Johnson added.

Last May, Russia claimed that a hypersonic “Kinzhal” cruise missile attack had successfully destroyed the American-made “Patriot” air defense system that protected the airspace over Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Although Ukraine denied the Russian Ministry of Defense’s claim, statements from American media outlets quoting sources from the Pentagon confirmed that their advanced “Patriot” air defense system had suffered severe damage as a result of the hypersonic cruise missile attack.

It wasn’t completely destroyed but was “damaged,” as stated by the well-known American cable news network, CNN.

 

Western media reports indicate that the “Patriot” air defense system was targeted by the Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missile after the advanced air defense system launched around 30 missiles within a two-minute period against Russian hypersonic missiles and drones launched by the Russian military towards the city of Kiev.

Each Patriot cruise missile is estimated to be worth US$5 million (RM20 million), making the total value of the 30 cruise missiles launched approximately US$150 million (RM600 million).

Despite launching Patriot missiles worth RM600 million, the air defense system was still destroyed or damaged thereafter.

Each Patriot air defense system battery has six launcher stations, each carrying three cruise missile canisters.

The missile attack that targeted the Patriot air defense system in Kiev last May somewhat tarnished its image, as it had previously been touted as Ukraine’s “perfect response” to aerial attacks by either aircraft or missiles from Russia.

According to the Ukrainian military, the attack on the city of Kiev last May was carried out by Russia using six Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles launched by six MiG-31K fighter jets, nine Kalibr cruise missiles launched by warships in the Black Sea, and six Shahed drones. — DSA

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