Ukrainian troops to journey to US for Patriot missile coaching

The Pentagon has introduced it is going to train Ukrainian troops to make use of Patriot missile methods within the US, marking one of many few events Kyiv’s forces have been skilled on American soil since Russia’s full-scale invasion final yr.

The programme, which is predicted to start subsequent week and final a number of months, can be held at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, the place the US trains its personal troops to make use of the Patriot, Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder mentioned on Tuesday.

The US will prepare 90 to 100 Ukrainian troopers, who will be taught to function, preserve and maintain the Patriot system, or battery. That variety of service members is roughly the quantity required to function a single battery.

Ukrainian officers have lengthy sought to be equipped with the Patriot, some of the superior American air defence methods, which can play an important position in serving to Kyiv preserve an built-in air defence construction. The US has pledged one Patriot system to Ukraine, and Germany has mentioned it is going to ship one.

Every Patriot battery features a truck-mounted launching system with eight launchers, every of which may maintain as much as 4 missile interceptors. The battery additionally has a floor radar, a management station and a generator. The US Military has 16 Patriot batteries.

Ryder mentioned the US military is condensing the standard size of the Patriot coaching programme in order that the methods can be utilized in Ukraine as quickly as doable.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine final February, small numbers of Ukrainian troops have obtained restricted coaching within the US, together with on learn how to function Switchblade drones.

The US can also be increasing its efforts to coach Ukrainian troops in Europe, with coaching for bigger models on extra advanced army manoeuvres set to start this month.

As a part of this programme, the US will prepare 500 Ukrainian troops monthly in Germany. It has skilled greater than 3,100 Ukrainian forces because the full-scale warfare started, together with on utilizing Himars and Howitzers.

Ryder mentioned there have been no future plans to coach different Ukrainian forces on the Patriot system, however added that would change. The US-based coaching is restricted to Patriot operators, he mentioned.