Ukrainian military to master Patriot systems “quickly” - Air Force spox

The Ukrainian forces will quickly master the Patriot air defense system.

That’s according to Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesman for the Air Force Command, who spoke at the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"People went to study it not from scratch as specialists from various brigades had been selected who had already received some theoretical training and who know English. Those to be trained are people with combat experience and a certain level of technical knowledge," said Ihnat.

He noted that the Ukrainian military mastered the IRIS-T SLM and NASAMS systems just as quickly, within a few weeks. Patriots, according to the spokesman, are more complex.

"It may take several months here as the system requires more attention. It’s somewhat more complex, but also more powerful as it can also hit ballistic targets at an up to 160 km range. Well, ballistic missiles at up to a 40 km range can also be engaged, such Kh22 missiles (NATO: Kitchen - ed.), which the occupiers unlawfully fire at Ukrainian cities, so they can also be shot down. The only thing is that we need quite a lot of such batteries to protect as many cities as possible, important objects of critical infrastructure. ... The process will go on in parallel lines – acceptance into service, putting them on combat duty, and training will continue, as it is currently happening with IRIS and NASAMS, where our experts, who have mastered them, have already shot down dozens of missiles, kamikaze drones, while their colleagues are already training by their side," Ihnat said.

Regarding whether the Patriot systems will be able to intercept S300 and S400 missiles, Ihnat noted that it depends on many factors, including intelligence data, which suggests Russia has about 7,000 such missiles.

Therefore, as the spokesman for the Air Force stressed, it is expedient to destroy the launchers rather than intercept the incoming missiles.