Pentagon preparing plan to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine

Washington — Pentagon officers are within the ultimate phases of making ready a plan to ship a Patriot air protection missile system to Ukraine to counter Russian aerial assaults, U.S. officers informed CBS News.  

The plan has not but been accepted by both the Pentagon or the White House, however that might come as early as this week. Act Daily News was the primary to report on plans to ship a Patriot system to Ukraine. 

The U.S. “is poised to” present no less than one Patriot missile battery to Ukraine as soon as the plan is accepted, in response to one of many officers. 

The Patriot system is extremely cellular, and makes use of ground-based radar to find and observe aerial threats that may then be shot down with a surface-to-air missile. Initially designed to take out plane, upgrades over time have made the system efficient at intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles.

The Ukrainians are anticipated to wish six to eight weeks of coaching in Europe to start working the system, and a full 10 months to succeed in full working functionality. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. to supply Patriot air protection programs as Russia continues to launch missile strikes at targets, together with vitality infrastructure, throughout Ukraine.

As the warfare has unfolded, the U.S. and allies have began offering Ukraine with Western air protection tools rather than the Soviet-made weapons Ukrainians already knew find out how to use. In latest months, the U.S. has dedicated National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems and missiles for older HAWK air protection programs. 

“As Ukraine continues to fight, air defense capabilities are becoming critical for their future success. An integrated system, an integrated air defense system, an integrated air and missile defense system, is what is necessary as Ukraine repels Russian aerial attacks,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley informed reporters throughout a press briefing in November.