The Drive:

Transferring Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, which have a relatively robust defensive capability against shorter-range ballistic missiles, to the Ukrainian armed forces is under consideration, according to the Pentagon and NATO. Authorities in Ukraine have been seeking Patriots since before Russia’s all-out invasion, but there has been reinvigorated interest in these systems more recently as the country has been subjected to major missile strikes on its power grid. There are also fears that Russian forces could soon begin employing Iranian short-range ballistic missiles as part of this campaign, which threatens to leave many Ukrainians literally in the dark and cold in the middle of winter.

“All [air defense] capabilities are on the table,” a senior U.S. defense official told The War Zone and other outlets at a press briefing today. “Patriot is one of the air defense capabilities that is being considered.”

A senior U.S. defense official confirmed to reporters today that Patriots were among the air defense systems that American authorities, and their allies and partners, are looking at sending to Ukraine. Back in October, U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had listed Patriots as being among the possible systems that might be included in still-evolving plans by an American-led coalition to significantly modernize Ukraine’s integrated air defense network in the long term.

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