US Provides Major Boost to Ukraine's Patriot System

The Department of Defense announced a $2.2 billion boost to Ukraine's air defenses on Wednesday, which includes missiles for the Patriot systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) already in Kyiv's possession.

According to a release from the DOD, the additional interceptors will be purchased from U.S. manufacturers under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Both the Patriot and NASAMS systems have played a crucial role in Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian air attacks.

The Pentagon also announced a $150 million boost for Ukraine through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which allows the DOD to draw directly from the U.S.'s stockpiles. The PDA package will include additional air defense interceptors, artillery and anti-tank weapons.

According to the DOD's announcement, this is the 60th time that the Biden Administration has drawn from Washington's inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

"Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon on Tuesday. "Alongside some 50 allies and partners, we'll continue to provide critical capabilities that Ukraine needs to push back Russian aggression today and to deter Russian aggression tomorrow."

Ukraine is currently in possession of at least two Patriot missile defense systems—one that was donated by the U.S., and another that was provided in partnership between Germany and the Netherlands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Kyiv needs at a "minimum" of "seven more 'Patriots' or similar air defense systems" in order to defend against Russia.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin must be brought down to earth, and our sky must become safe again...And it depends fully on your choice...[the] choice whether we are indeed allies," Zelensky during a speech to the NATO-Ukraine Council back in April, as reported by Reuters.

The U.S. first provided Ukraine with NASAMS systems in November 2022. Other NATO allies, including Norway and Lithuania, have also pledged to deliver defense launches to Ukraine.

Purchasing additional interceptors through the USAI program takes longer than providing Ukraine with supplies under the PDA, although the Biden administration "plans to accelerate delivery of [USAI] munitions by re-sequencing upcoming Foreign Military Sales deliveries for Ukraine," according to the Pentagon's release.

"As a result, Ukraine will be provided with the interceptors it urgently needs to protect its people and critical infrastructure against Russia's aerial attacks," the DOD added.

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense via email for additional comment.

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