The Patriot system is the most expensive system supplied to the Romanian Army, and Bucharest paid almost 4 billion dollars for seven such systems that came bundled with several hundred interceptors. Only four of the seven ordered systems have arrived in the country, and of these only one is functional. Patriot is the acronym for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, in short, phased array tracking radar for intercepting targets. Basically, it’s a mobile system that usually includes a powerful radar, a control station, a power generator, launch stations and other support vehicles.
It is the most advanced air defense system that the Westerners have and was first used in the Gulf War in 1991. Then Patriot batteries defended Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
According to the International Center for Strategic Studies a new Patriot battery costs more than $1.1 billion, with $400 million for the system and $690 million for the missiles in a battery.
The Americans are trying to convince all NATO states to give up their advanced defense systems to Ukraine, at a time when this country is torn apart by war. At the meeting ten days ago between NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke of his military’s urgent needs: “artillery, 155 mm caliber ammunition, long-range weapons and air defense, mainly Patriot systems” .
Despite the rhetoric, NATO states find it hard to give up their own defensive weapons, especially those that are so expensive and useful for their defense in case of need. Spain, for example, is ready to offer one of its Patriot batteries located in southeastern Turkey. This prompt example is given to Romania, but also to Greece or Bulgaria. We don’t know for sure what else Bucharest has to offer, but Athens is increasingly unhappy that it is being pressured to give up the defense systems it bought in the early 1990s from East Germany. It would be a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system designed in the Soviet Union ((OSA/AK), which the Greeks claim would form the backbone of the defense of the Greek islands in the Sea Aegean and that they will give it to the Ukrainians when they get something else in return.
Likewise, President Klaus Iohannis said after the short meeting he had with his American counterpart Joe Biden: “Let’s see how we can solve the problem, what we can offer and obviously what we can get in return, because it is, in my opinion, it is unacceptable for Romania to remain without anti-aircraft defense.” The head of the Romanian state is sure that he will find a solution and that, probably, Bucharest will give one of the Patriot batteries that are in the process of being operationalized. Bulgaria is also preparing two large support packages for Kiev, which will include C-300 and C-200 Vega missile systems, which can also be used in Ukraine. Bulgaria has already sent defective missiles for S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, which the Ukrainians are to repair, and 100 armored personnel carriers.
Romania’s ambassador to Washington admitted that Bucharest has provided military support to Ukraine since the first phase of the Russian invasion and will continue to do so. The Patriot system will be able to be given to Ukraine, only after a decision of the Supreme Council of Defense of the Country, as PNL leader, Nicolae Ciucă, reserve general, who is waiting for an analysis from MApN in this regard, wanted to emphasize. The Patriot battery will join a longer list of weapons given by Romania to the Ukrainians. Among others, according to Defense Romania , would be APRA-40 or armored TAB-71 amphibious launchers, howitzers, numerous amounts of 152mm and 122mm ammunition, AG-7 and AG-9 grenade launchers, 12.7mm DshKM heavy machine guns and other weapons from the late Soviet Union. The Patriot anti-aircraft battery would be the first modern western system that Romania would send to Ukraine.
The chronic shortage of ammunition and anti-aircraft defenses led to a major Russian advance, and the cities of Ukraine bombarded at their strategic points by Russian missiles. Recently one of the heads of Ukrainian military intelligence, General Vadim Skibitsky, was skeptical about his country’s victory , even saying that Ukraine will not be able to defeat Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, warned that Ukraine could lose the war, if it is not helped with modern combat means.
