Ukrainian Air Force shows video of MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 surface-to-air missile system capable of destroying ballistic missiles for the first time

On 18 April, the German government announced that the MIM-104 Patriot had been sent to Ukraine. The next day, the Ukrainian defence minister confirmed the arrival of the surface-to-air missile system. A week later, the Air Force showed a video of the MIM-104 Patriot in Ukraine for the first time.

Here's What We Know

The MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 is the most powerful component of Ukraine's air defence system. The US antiaircraft missile system, delivered from Germany, can hit ballistic and aerodynamic air objects.

It is known from publicly available data that the maximum intercept altitude for the PAC-3 version is 40 km, which is twice as much as for the PAC-2. The anti-missile can destroy aerodynamic and ballistic threats at ranges of up to 150 km and 60 km respectively.

By the way, it has not been officially stated that the video shows the MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 specifically from Germany. However, the MAN chassis and distinctive camouflage give away the "German origin" of the surface-to-air missile system. It entered service with the 138th anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force.

A single surface-to-air missile system can include up to eight launchers, radar, control vehicles, communications vehicles and transport-loading vehicles. It is not currently specified how many MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 launchers Ukraine has received.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force