The U.S. military used approximately 82 Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles to intercept 20 Iranian ballistic missiles during the attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on September 9. That averages more than four interceptors per target, while Ukraine, due to an ammunition shortage, is forced to use Patriot missiles much more sparingly, Defense Express reports, citing The Wall Street Journal, writes UNN.
Details
According to the publication, during the attack U.S. forces launched approximately 70 scarce PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems. In addition, the THAAD missile defense system deployed approximately 12 more interceptors.
Despite the significant expenditure of ammunition, U.S. forces managed to intercept 18 of the 20 Iranian ballistic missiles. American military aircraft were also damaged in the strike.
Ukraine economizes on Patriot missiles
Defense Express notes that in Ukraine, due to a shortage of interceptors, only one Patriot missile per target may be used when intercepting ballistic targets.
The high expenditure of PAC-3 missiles by the U.S. military is also drawing attention because of the limited stocks of these missiles. This issue is particularly significant for Ukraine, as the PAC-3 is one of the key means of intercepting ballistic missiles.
The THAAD system was also used during the attack in Jordan. Iran had previously destroyed one of the AN/TPY-2 radar stations required for its operation, so, as Defense Express notes, the United States likely had to redeploy another such radar to the area of the air base.
Ukraine may obtain a license to produce missiles for Patriot, but there is a catch16.09.26, 05:17