Since May 4, 2023, 15 Russian Kinzhal rockets have been successfully intercepted over Ukraine by the US Patriot missile defense system. Because Kinzhal missiles travel at hypersonic speed and can reach altitudes of 30 to 40 kilometers above the earth, they have proven challenging to intercept.

The Kinzhal is a ballistic missile launched from the air that may carry conventional or nuclear payloads. It can go 1,500–2,000 km at a time and carry 480 kg of cargo. It can travel at up to 12,250 kph, or Mach 10. It is extremely challenging to detect and fire down the missile due to its speed and ability to navigate towards its target. But the Patriot missile managed to shatter it.

Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target is what Patriot stands for. Ukraine is receiving this missile defense system, which is a United States-exclusive technology. Currently, Germany and the United States provide Ukraine with two Patriot systems.

The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system installed on a truck. It was put into production in the 1980s and has the ability to target short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Ukraine would need to pay USD 1.1 billion, or IDR 16.4 trillion, in total, for one battery of Patriot missile systems. The specifics are approximately USD 690 million for interceptor missiles and USD 400 million for the entire package.

A ground radar unit, a control station, a generator, an antenna, a truck-mounted launch system with eight launchers, and launchers that can each contain up to four interceptor missiles are all included in each Patriot missile system battery.

To run a battery of Patriot systems, approximately ninety personnel are needed. It requires time to train on the system. The duration of the training is described by the Congressional Research Service: 13 weeks for a system operator, 20 weeks for a fire control operator, and 53 weeks for a system repair. Although the missile system is land-based, Lockheed Martin introduced a ship-capable version of a comparable system in January. Twelve nations, including NATO members and US allies in the Middle East, have operated the system.

In the meantime, the Russians previously asserted that they had used a hypersonic missile attack from the Kinzhal to destroy a Patriot missile system battery in Ukraine. Nevertheless, both the US and Ukraine refuted this. They were sure to stress that the Patriot system was harmed rather than destroyed. Soon later, the Ukrainian system was fixed and back in operation.

#kinzhalmissile #russiaukrainewar #Patriotmissile

свернуть