Pentagon Press Sec. Says Ukrainian Forces To Start Training On U.S. Air Defense System On American Soil Next Week

Air Force Brig., Defense Secretary. General Patrick Ryder stated Tuesday that Ukrainian troops will begin training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on the Patriot Air Defense System, as soon as next week. This is despite ongoing aerial attacks by Russian forces.

Ryder stated to reporters that the training would prepare about 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers for operation, maintenance and support of the defensive system. The training course is expected to last several month.

“Once fielded, the Patriot will continue to contribute to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and provide another capability to Ukrainian people to defend themselves against Russia’s ongoing aerial assaults,” Ryder.

PENTAGON SEC: “I can confirm that training for Ukrainian forces on the Patriot Air Defense System will begin as soon as next week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.” pic.twitter.com/gFDK1HbPsL

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 10, 2023

Ryder added that the Patriot would help Ukraine’s air defense capabilities in a larger effort by the United States as well as the international community to give Ukraine the air defence capabilities it needs to protect its civilian population.

“It’s something that will enable them to take down … ballistic missiles, adversary aircraft; [it’s] really up to them on how they employ it,” He .

This announcement comes less than one month after the Biden administration announced it would provide $1.85 billion more in military aid for Ukraine. This included the Patriot air defense system, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilenskyy believes Ukraine needs to protect itself against Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy spoke in a Report The Hill reported that U.S. aid would be used for weapons financing “crucial” To help Ukraine defeat Russia and to serve as “the turning point to win on the battlefield.”

The acronym “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target” is called the Patriot. ReutersRaytheon Technologies Corp has developed an advanced U.S. Air Defense System with theater-wide missile defense.

Although the system was designed to intercept aircraft and missiles, Reuters reports that it could also be used to strike down. “kamikaze” Russian forces frequently use drones to destroy critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

Raytheon claimed that Patriot systems have intercepted more 150 ballistic weapons in combat since 2015.

NBC News reported Russian President Vladimir Putin called last month’s system obsolete and declared that Russia would continue to use it. “knock down” The Patriots.

Raytheon has built over 240 systems and they are used in 18 countries. They usually contain a radar and control station, power generator and launch stations.

The Patriot was first used by military forces during the 1991 Gulf War. It had batteries that protected Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It was again used by officials in Iraq in 2003.

According to Pentagon officials, the United States has provided Ukraine more than $24.2 billion in security aid since the war with Russia started on February 24, 2022.

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