Ukraine to receive another Patriot system, retired from the Israeli army
The United States will hand over a refurbished Israeli Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, and other allies are considering the possibility of handing over another.
Here's What We Know
The New York Times reports this with reference to sources in the US administration. This is a system that was previously in service with Israel, decommissioned in 2024 and transferred to the United States for modernisation. It is expected to be delivered to Ukraine in the summer of 2025.
At the same time, negotiations are ongoing on the possible supply of another system from Germany or Greece, but in the case of Germany, this seems unlikely. Berlin has already handed over three of its ten Patriot systems to Ukraine, but has not yet received a replacement.
Against this backdrop, we recall the talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, who in March promised to help find additional air defence systems. The US administration does not specify whether the current decision to transfer the system was made during the previous or current administration.
The launcher of the Patriot PAC-2 air defence system. Illustration: Israeli Air Force
In total, Ukraine has already received eight Patriot systems - three from the United States, three from Germany, and one each from Romania and the Netherlands. According to The New York Times, six of them are currently in combat readiness, and two are undergoing repairs. If the agreements to transfer two more systems are implemented, Ukraine will have at least ten systems, which meets the minimum requirements voiced by President Zelenskyy to counter Russian missile attacks.
In short, the decommissioned Israeli Patriot systems will be replaced by modern David's Sling and Iron Dome systems. Negotiations on their transfer to Ukraine began in the summer of 2024.
Source: The New York Times
