Patriot and Sampdoria: this is why Kiev wants US and Italian-French anti-aircraft defenses

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American Patriots and the Samp/T, the Franco-Italian air defense system: this is what Kiev is demanding to protect itself from the deluge of Russian fire coming from the sky. The two missile systems are fundamental for Ukraine to protect sensitive targets (primarily cities) from attacks by Russian missiles, especially the fearsome Kinžal (“dagger” in Russian) hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles.

The Patriots

The American Patriots, which became famous in the war in Iraq, are essential not only to counter Russian terrorist campaigns, carried out with “standard” missiles, which target energy infrastructures and population centers, but also to reduce the impact of enemy air forces along the front line. Advanced Western systems have proven capable of destroying even the notorious Kinžal missile. The detection and tracking radar system is the most important part of the Patriot equipment, because it is capable of resisting enemy electronic countermeasures, detecting targets more than 100 kilometers away and simultaneously tracking up to 100 targets. At least 90 soldiers must be deployed for each single launch battery.

The disponibilities

The Patriots who could be deployed in Ukraine “are at least 100”, the Foreign Minister declared days ago Dmytro Kulebaa fact also endorsed by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell. But the secretary general of NATO, Jens Stontelbergintervened to underline that the number of batteries in Europe is “top secret information” and that in any case “they are significantly” less than 100.

The role of the USA

The number one of the Atlantic Alliance, Stontelberg, recalled that the USA has more systems than anyone else: 300 batteries operational capable of launching 1,200 missiles, some redeployed in the Middle East after the start of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Washington “has global responsibilities,” Stoltenberg said, as if he wanted to tell Kiev which door to knock on.

Who has them

There are 16 countries equipped with Patriots, in addition to the USA obviously. In Europe the largest number of systems are found in Germany, which has 12, with over eighty launch batteries. The other countries in the American list are Greece, the Netherlands (3 recently modernized systems), Spain (6 batteries, to which are added another 4 ordered in October with 24 launchers), Sweden (4), Romania (7 ordered, 4 already operational), Poland (6 batteries but the system is not yet operational). Yes to these they add: Japan, South Korea, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Taiwan, Bahrain. And surprisingly, too Swiss: the first delivery is expected from 2026.