US plans to redirect Patriot orders to Ukraine: analysts doubt quick effect
21 June 2024 08:36
ЕКСКЛЮЗИВ
The recent announcement by the US government that it plans to redirect all open orders for Patriot air defence systems and missiles to Ukraine has caused cautious scepticism among military experts.
Military analyst Pavlo Narozhny warns against excessive optimism about this decision. According to him, although it demonstrates the willingness of the allies to support Ukraine, the real strengthening of the country’s air defence may not happen as quickly as many would like.
“The production time for both Patriot systems and missiles is very long. That is, it is a matter of months at best. We don’t know when these orders were placed, at what stage of production they are – maybe somewhere it takes a month, and somewhere it takes five months. When we receive them, I think it will be within a year,”
– says Narozhnyi.
The expert emphasises that the allies are not ready to sacrifice their own security by giving away existing systems. Instead, they have chosen to redirect future orders, which will inevitably lead to delays in delivery.
“They are well aware of the prospects of a possible expansion of the conflict and are not ready to expose their own air defence,”
– the analyst explains.
Thus, although the US decision is an important step in supporting Ukraine, it is unlikely to lead to a quick “closure of the skies” over the country.
