Romanian Patriot air defense system to bolster Ukraine's defense

The authorities of Romania have adopted a bill that will enable the transfer of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian news agency Unian, which cites the findings of the Reuters agency. Bucharest will transfer the Patriot, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, if allies later replace it with a newer system of the same type—this is a crucial condition mentioned by the Romanians.

Romania, a NATO member since 2004, shares a 400-mile border with Ukraine and is thus exposed to accidental airspace violations, for instance, by Russian drones. These violations have occurred in the past. Recall that at the end of July this year, the wreckage of a Shahed-type kamikaze drone was found on Romanian territory. A similar situation happened earlier in March 2024.

Amidst the ongoing attacks by the Russian Federation's armed forces against Ukraine, Romania has decided to transfer another valuable weapon to the defenders. This time, it is one of Kyiv's critical systems that its allies have repeatedly requested. The Patriot air defense system will be delivered to Ukraine as soon as Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signs the bill, Unian reports. Following this, the government will order the weapon transfer to Ukraine.

Reuters notes that Bucharest decided to send one of its two active Patriot complexes to the front—one of five in the Romanian arsenal. It is worth adding, however, that the bill provides for replacing the transferred Patriot with a new one. The allies must replace the Patriot before supporting Ukraine with valuable weapons.

The Patriot system was developed in response to the growing missile threat in the 1970s and 1980s. Over subsequent decades, it underwent many modifications and upgrades to adapt to changing military needs and challenges.

The Patriot system consists of several essential components: radar, launchers, and a command center. The radar is critical in detecting and tracking targets, enabling precise targeting. The launchers are responsible for firing PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, which differ in functionality and technology.

PAC-2 explodes near the target, destroying it with a shockwave, while PAC-3 is a missile that directly hits the incoming object, offering greater precision. This system is also equipped with advanced radar systems that continuously monitor airspace and, upon detecting a threat, immediately relay the information to the command center, which coordinates the interception action.

The Patriot system's radar is an advanced device that uses phased array technology to detect and track aerial targets over long distances. It can detect targets several hundred kilometers away, analyze their speed and course, and then relay this data to the command center.

The launchers are a crucial element of the Patriot system. Each launcher can store and fire different types of missiles, depending on the nature of the threat. PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles are launched automatically, and the entire process, from threat detection to neutralization, takes just a few seconds. They accelerate to speeds of up to 3,800 mph and neutralize targets up to 100 miles away.