Patriots in the way of Putin missiles

The arrival of US Patriot missiles in Ukraine would be the most significant development in the high-stakes psychological battle between Washington and Moscow since the war began on February 24. The Patriot system which can shoot down ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, advanced fighter aircraft and drones are combat-proven and sufficiently accurate to provide crucial defence against the Russian bombardment of Ukraine's critical infrastructure. However more than that, a decision by President Biden to deploy these air-defence weapons in Ukraine would send the most potent signal to President Biden that the US and its NATO allies were no longer prepared to allow the Kremlin to persist with its brutal attacks. The US has already sent huge supplies of air-defence weapons, including Stinger man-portable systems. But a battery of Patriot missiles would be in a different league. No system is perfect. In its early combat days, the Patriot was used extensively during the 1991 Gulf War, protecting both Saudi Arabia and Israel from Scud ballistic missiles fired somewhat randomly by Iraq. About 70 per cent of the Scuds launched against Saudi Arabia and 40 per cent targeting Israel were shot down. Ironically, the best operational air-defence system in the world is probably the Russian SS-400. Israel's Iron Dome system has also demonstrated its combat effectiveness. The Patriot, however, has gone through three improvement programmes and is now significantly more accurate and capable than the Gulf War versions. Concerned that Russian missiles might be aimed at Nato's eastern flank, the US deployed Patriots to Poland since the war began in Ukraine. Sending them into Ukraine would tell Putin that Biden and his defence secretary Lloyd Austin, believe the time is right to provide an extra layer of protection to confront Russia. There is a drawback. These are serious weapons that cannot be deployed and launched in anger in days or even weeks. Dozens of Ukrainian missile operators will have to be trained, probably at a US base in Germany. It could take months and meanwhile the Russian missile attacks will continue. However, if Biden approves Patriot for the Kyiv government, the next step could be longer-range rockets to hit targets inside Russia and fighter jets, although a US defence source said the latter was probably a long way down the road.