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Ukraine has repeatedly called for more Patriot air defence systems (pictured) to defend its airfields and major cities. Each Patriot battery costs $1bn and each missile costs $4m. Credit: German Ministry of Defence.
Aspate of Russian attacks on airfields across Ukraine point to Moscow’s tactic of targeting sites it believes will house F-16s, which Kyiv’s European backers will send this month (July 2024).
The western city of Starokostiantyniv, home to one of Ukraine’s most important air bases, has been a primary target of Russian airstrikes.
Ukraine has repeatedly called on Nato allies to send US-made F-16s, persuading the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium to commit to send roughly 90 jets between them.
Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said the necessary permits had approved the delivery of the 24 F-16s regardless of today’s (2 July) change of government. Ollongren has not specified how many F-16s will be sent in the first delivery – nor when the jets will arrive in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s plea for Patriots grows louder
While Kyiv has welcomed the promise of F-16s, Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian airfields lay bare the challenges it faces in rebuilding its depleted air forces and air defences.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has led Ukraine’s plea for Patriot missiles – the most capable and expensive air defence systems Kyiv has against Russia’s aerial bombardment.
In April, the US allocated $6bn of its $60bn aid package for Ukraine solely for Patriots. Each battery costs roughly $1bn, and each missile costs $4m.
"Patriots" can only be called air defense systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2024
Modern fighter jets are required where modernity is put to the test and it is determined whether children and grandchildren of today's… pic.twitter.com/DEubpYEGVg
Ukraine currently has three or four Patriot systems, supplied by the US and Germany. Zelensky says it needs at least seven to defend its major cities, including second city Kharkiv which has been heavily targeted by Russia’s KAB guided air bombs.
The US has also discussed sending up to eight Patriot systems from Israel to Ukraine, without reaching a decision.
Zelensky is expected to reiterate such calls in talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who arrived in Kyiv yesterday (1 July), a day after Hungary assumed the presidency of the EU Council.
Orban, a vocal critic of Western weapons support for Ukraine and Putin ally, reportedly proposed a ceasefire deal to Zelensky. Neither premier revealed Zelensky’s exact response.
Attention now shifts to the imminent Dutch delivery of F-16s, the potential for further Patriot shipments and how Ukraine will protect its airfields from Russia’s targeting.
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첫댓글 최소 2기는 완파당했다고 보이더군요. 이제 강화쉘터 없이는 항공기 운영은 꿈도 못꾸는 세상이 확실하네요.
후방이라면 몰라도 전선 근방 공군기지에는 이글루가 있었어야 할 텐데요. 집속탄에 전투기를 상실하다니 ㅜㅜ
MiG-29는 AASM을 loft로 던지는 일도 하던데 Su-27은 주로 HARM 쏘는 일을 하고 있을라나요?
공대공에서는 R-37M 때문에 도망다니기만 할 것 같고...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQg-EoaUTw4
PLAY
2022년 9월에 MiG-29에 이어 HARM 통합된 사진이 공개되긴 했네요. ( https://theaviationist.com/2022/09/09/ukrainian-su-27-agm-88-harm-missiles/ )
플랭커뿐만 아니라 우크라이나 공군 전체가 물량에서도 밀리는 것 같습니다. 2:13, 4:24로 교전한 적도 있었다고.. 당연히 드론 및 순항미사일 요격 임무도 수행해야 되고, 기지변환도 수시로 해야되서 조종사들의 체력 소모도 격심하다고 하네요. 하루 세 번 비행장을 바꾼 적도 있었다고 하네요. ( https://theaviationist.com/2024/06/05/4-vs-24-ukrainian-su-27-pilot/ )