The American Patriot missile defense system has reached an unprecedented level of efficiency thanks to the practical combat experience of Ukrainian military personnel. Their deployment of these systems under the extreme conditions of full-scale war with Russia became a decisive factor in its modernization, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to The War Zone.
According to Tyler Rogoway, editor-in-chief of the publication, the intensive use of the Patriot system in Ukraine allowed developers to implement critically important software updates and improvements to the hardware. The combat challenges that Ukrainian air defense units face on a daily basis have become a unique testing ground for American engineers and a source of invaluable data to upgrade the system.
For the first time in history, Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted air-launched ballistic missiles such as the Russian Kh-47M2 “Kinzhal,” which were previously considered nearly invulnerable. This became possible through the use of the modified Patriot PAC-3 system, specifically designed to counter ballistic threats. Later, Ukrainian air defense crews also demonstrated the system’s effectiveness against other complex targets, including Russian “Iskander” missiles and North Korean KN-23s, which are also being used by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Despite the positive operational experience of Patriot systems in Saudi Arabia, it is Ukraine’s military, according to Rogoway, that has ushered in a new era in the development of this defense technology. His comments came against the backdrop of recent attacks on American facilities in Iraq and Qatar, further underscoring the need for advanced missile defense capabilities.
Furthermore, Ukraine has already proposed the establishment of a domestic platform for the joint production and maintenance of Patriot systems with American manufacturers. In this way, Ukraine’s air defense forces are serving not only as a shield against Russian missiles but also as a live laboratory for the combat testing and enhancement of advanced Western weapon systems.
Earlier we wrote that Israel provides Patriot missiles to Ukraine despite neutrality policy.