Russia Says It Hit 3 Patriot SAM Launchers in One Day

The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed it destroyed several U.S.-made Patriot air defense system launchers in one day amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Russian forces hit three launchers of the U.S. Patriot air defense system on Thursday, 1 August, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry.

Russia used a combination of drones, artillery, and ground troops to target the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

Moscow also claimed to have shot down 14 rocket launchers manufactured by the United States and one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System.

The Patriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target) is a highly sophisticated surface-to-air missile defense system, and it is considered one of the most advanced weapon systems in the U.S. arsenal.

The U.S. provided Ukraine with a Patriot air defense system to bolster the country's fortification against a barrage of Russian drone strikes.

Ukraine received its first Patriot battery from the U.S. in the first half of 2023 to protect the skies from heavy bombardments and constant shelling.

Ukraine is set to receive an additional $1.7 billion in military aid, U.S. officials said on Monday. The latest round of aid includes munitions for air defense systems, artillery, mortars, and anti-tank and anti-ship missiles.

The package includes $1.5 billion in funding for long-term contracts through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $200 million in immediate military aid taken from Pentagon stockpiles.

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system that utilizes an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high-performance radar system.

The system is used to intercept threats such as aircraft and ballistic missiles, it can also shoot down the "kamikaze" drones Russia has frequently deployed.

It comes as the Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets pledged to Kyiv arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday. The first batch of long-awaited F-16 jets were spotted in action in a watershed moment for the war-ravaged country.

The Kremlin said that the Russian military would shoot down U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine and claimed that the F-16s would have no significant impact on the course of the war.

President Joe Biden agreed in August 2023 for used F-16s to be deployed to Ukraine; however, the U.S. won't provide any of its own planes. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway committed to gifting Ukraine with more than 60.

Peter Stano, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told Newsweek: "Most of the claims coming from Moscow have no credibility whatsoever, are either propaganda or information manipulation or outright lies.

"While the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the accompanying info war conducted by the Kremlin continue, we as the EU, together with our partners, will continue supporting Ukraine to defend itself."

RUSI Military Sciences Director Matthew Savill told Newsweek: "Overall, the challenges for Ukraine in 2024 and potential answers remain the same as before this decision: resupply of equipment and ammunition, recruitment and training of personnel, and effective defences to prevent or slow down Russian ground advances. Deep strike is not a silver bullet."

A newly produced single Patriot battery costs over $1 billion, with $400 million for the system and $690 million for the missiles in a battery, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

The Patriot system was first used in live combat during the 1991 Gulf War, with batteries protecting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel. The highly advanced military warfare was also utilized during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

It is a mobile system that usually includes a powerful radar, control station, power generators, launch stations, and ancillary support vehicles. The surface-to-air missile radar has a range of over 150 km (93 miles).

The system has different capabilities depending on the type of interceptor used. The PAC-2 interceptor uses a blast-fragmentation warhead, while the newer PAC-3 missile uses more advanced hit-to-kill technology.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defence Ministry and the office of President Zelensky for comment.

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