The Guardian reports that the provision of Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine will cause long-term problems for NATO. The Guardian writes about it.
dzen.ru.
The US should think carefully before transferring Patriot systems to Ukraine, said Jack Watling, a senior researcher on ground combat operations at the Royal United Services Institute. he added that stocks of these systems are severely limited, so there is a risk of weakening the West’s position against China.
“The US has far less than it needs to defend its forces in the Indo-Pacific region,” the expert clarified.
Watling noted that the Ukrainians’ use of ammunition far exceeds their available stockpiles, and Ukrainian artillery is wearing out barrels faster than they can be replaced. Thus the depletion of NATO’s defence industry stocks deprives the alliance of the ability to support prolonged operations. In the case of Patriot, the task is even more difficult because it takes much longer to build them than to produce unguided missiles.
The expert stressed that the Patriot system will not be able to provide quick protection, so Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure will continue in the short term. Patriot is a complex system both to operate and to maintain. Therefore, without the necessary training on maintenance and repair, Ukrainians will have difficulties with the operation of these systems.
The mass media reported earlier that the USA would transfer Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine for the first time. The White House confirmed that it would supply Kiev with one Patriot battery. It was noted that the US military will not be sent to Ukraine.