Russian MoD Says Missile Strike On Ukrainian Patriot System Destroyed …
A multifunctional radar station and five missile launchers of the American-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense system were destroyed during the May 16 Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on May 17.
“According to reliable and confirmed information, on 16 May, Kinzhal hypersonic missile system hit and completely destroyed a multifunctional radar station as well as five launchers of US-manufactured Patriot surface-to-air missile system in Kiev,” the ministry said.
According to a previous statement by the ministry, Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missiles were used to destroy the Patriot system, which was reportedly deployed at the State Aviation Museum in the heart of Kiev.
The Kinzhal, which can reach a hypersonic speed of Mach 10-12, was especially designed to overcome NATO air defense systems, including the Patriot. The missile has a maximum range of 2,000 kilometers when launched from MiG-31K fighter jets.
Video footage that surfaced online after the Russian missile strike showed the system firing at least 30 interceptors before being struck by two large explosions. Back then, Kiev claimed that its air defenses shot down six Kinzhal missiles, but Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu rejected that claim.
Ukraine received two Patriot systems earlier this year. One Patriot system was donated to the country by the United States, while another was jointly gifted by Germany and the Netherlands.
The systems supplied to Kiev are said to be a mix of PAC-3 hit-to-kill active missiles to intercept ballistic missiles, with a range of 30-60 kilometers only, and PAC-2 blast fragmentation warhead semi-active missiles to counter aircraft threats with a range of up to 160 kilometers.
The Russian MoD’s new statement indicates that the missile strike destroyed an AN/MPQ-53/65 passive electronically scanned array radar, the heart of the Patriot system, as well as five M90x Launching Stations armed with PAC-3 and PAC-2 interceptors.
Despite the presence of visual evidence confirming that one of Ukraine’s Patriots was hit, U.S. officials told CNN on May 17 that the system was slightly damaged and is still operational. The sources alleged that the system’s advanced radar survived the strike.
More information on the missile strike could surface in the upcoming days. If released, satellite images could provide a better look at the result of the strike.
Overall, the Russian missile strike against the Patriot system was a major blow to the U.S.-led efforts to rebuild and enhance Ukrainian air defenses, which have lost most of their capabilities since the start of the Russian special military operation last year.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
The post Russian MoD Says Missile Strike On Ukrainian Patriot System Destroyed Radar, Five Launcher appeared first on South Front.
