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Topic: Air Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Europe Tags: Air Defense, Eastern Europe, Missiles, Patriot Missile, Ukraine, Ukraine War, and United States Happy New Year, Ukraine: Kyiv Now Has Two More Patriot Missile Batteries January 6, 2026 By: Peter Suciu
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The Patriot batteries are a welcome addition to Ukraine’s arsenal—but the real challenge has been ensuring a steady supply of missiles for use.
Kyiv confirmed on New Year’s Day that it had deployed two additional MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems in undisclosed locations in Ukraine. NATO member Germany provided the two US-made air-defense batteries.
“We especially value the delivery of two pledged Patriot systems,” Ukraine’s Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal told reporters last month—observing that the missile systems were in active use protecting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
The delivery of the Patriots was likely a welcome “Christmas gift,” as Kyiv had urged its partners for assistance following months of drone and missile strikes carried out by Russian forces on Ukraine’s cities, energy facilities, and other civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials have credited the MIM-104 with successfully countering some of the Kremlin’s most advanced weapons, notably the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and 3M22 Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic missiles. The missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (16,000 km/h; 9,950 mph) and Mach 9 (11,000 km/h; 6,830 mph), which the Russian military has stated makes them especially hard to counter. However, Kyiv has claimed it has successfully intercepted both missiles with the Patriot system. That has led to speculation that Russia’s hypersonic missiles have not lived up to expectations.
About the MIM-104 Patriot Missile System
Developed in the 1970s to counter Soviet missiles, the MIM-104 Patriot is a mobile interceptor surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The long-range, all-weather, all-altitude platform is more than a single unit. The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS’s) Missile Threat explains that each “Patriot battery includes a radar set, an engagement control system, power generation and other support vehicles” as well as “several launch stations.”
Since its introduction more than four decades ago, the Patriot system has been steadily upgraded, including its advanced aerial interceptor missile and high-performance radar systems.
Despite being designed for use against Soviet ballistic missiles, the MIM-104 gained fame during the Gulf War, with the claimed engagement of over 40 Iraqi Scud missiles. More recently, Ukraine has employed the Patriot system to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, including the air-launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and vertical-launched 3M22 Zircon.
Approximately 1,100 MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems have been produced for the US military, with an additional 200 exported to allied and partner nations, including Germany, Israel, Japan, and South Korea.
More than 10,000 Patriot missiles have been produced, but as the engagements in the Middle East have shown, the ordnance can be consumed at an alarming rate. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, around 500 PAC-3 interceptors were being manufactured each year—meaning that the US and allied militaries can use about 1.5 missiles per day and have enough to replenish them. However, dozens of the missiles can be fired during drone and missile attacks, such as the ones that have targeted Ukraine or Israel, rapidly outpacing production. As a result, efforts are underway to increase production of PAC-3s to 650 units or more.
Ukraine Is Getting Other Christmas Presents from NATO
In addition to the Patriot batteries, Ukraine received IRIS-T, NASAMS, and SAMP/T systems over the holiday, which will further support its efforts to intercept cruise and ballistic missiles. Germany provided Gepard and Skynex air defense systems that have proven effective at countering Russian drones, including those made in Iran.
The ongoing conflict will enter its fifth year on February 24—longer than the “Great Patriotic War,” the Russian and historical Ukrainian name for the Eastern Front of World War II fought from 1941 to 1945. Despite US efforts to broker a peace, the war seems no closer to ending.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Image: Shutterstock / Mike Mareen.
The post Happy New Year, Ukraine: Kyiv Now Has Two More Patriot Missile Batteries appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org