Yurii Ihnat: ‘nomenclature wise’ we have all types of air defense systems that we talked about with Western countries, quantity wise – we need more

Ukraine needs more such systems as Patriot, SAMP/T IRIS-T and NASAMS to protect the country and the targets that the enemy will try to destroy.

Yurii Ihnat, Spokesperson for the Air Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, made this statement during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

“As of today, we have received virtually all the air defense systems from the West that we were promised. These are some of the best air defense systems in the world. But the word “all” must be separated here into the nomenclature of what we received and the quantity. Undoubtedly, two Patriot systems are very little for Ukraine. Patriot is the system that allows shooting down ballistic missiles, allows shooting down “Kinzhals” (russian missiles – Ed.), which has already been proven for the first time in world history. The state of Ukraine needs more such systems, and along with Patriot, (we – Ed.) need SAMP/T in sufficient quantities too. In addition, one of the most modern systems today – IRIS-T – is also in Ukraine, but similarly in a very limited number. The same is the case with NASAMS systems, which show themselves excellently today in the fight against air targets. It is the quantity that remains the issue,” he explained.

At the same time, Yurii Ihnat emphasized the need for appropriate weapons that will be even more efficient at destroying the enemy Shaheds that russia launches against Ukraine.

“Today we need to focus not only on these systems which I mentioned both for the Air Force and for the air defense of the Ground Forces. Namely there is Paladin, which is not bad, the UK will supply it to Ukraine. This (system – Ed.) is what is needed to destroy the Shaheds, because there are more of them, russia has set up production on their territory, and we need specifically such means that can destroy these targets in an automatic mode, without human intervention, with a hundred percent result. This has already been shown by the German Gepard, which is very good at destroying not only Shaheds, but also missiles. It is the rational use of the weapons, which the West gives us, that will allow us to destroy the Shaheds and save more expensive missiles for more priority purposes and to protect our state from russian aviation,” he added.

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