Up till roughly two years in the past, Slovakia possessed Soviet S-300 air protection methods. Nevertheless, following the onset of the Russian invasion and battle in Ukraine, Bratislava determined to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with its Soviet methods.
On Saturday, January 27, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Protection of Slovakia, Robert Kaliniak, revealed that his nation is in negotiations with america over the procurement of the American MIM-104 Patriot anti-aircraft methods. He made the announcement throughout an interview on an area tv community, claiming, “The Patriot contract would be the largest within the historical past of the Slovak Army.”
Kaliniak emphasised the significance of those methods in offering safety for the nation’s airspace. There’s a big expectation inside the nation that the US will provide a “low cost” on the system’s value, given Slovakia’s ongoing help of Ukraine and the potential quantity of methods to be bought. Nevertheless, no official variety of Patriot air protection methods concerned has been specified, as Kaliniak chooses to chorus from speculations till a closing settlement with Washington is struck.
In the mean time
The S-300, donated by Slovakia to Ukraine, opened a “gap” within the nation’s air protection. In 2022, following Bratislava’s help to Kyiv with the S-300 air protection methods, and as a member of NATO, the US swiftly reciprocated the gesture by asserting its help for Slovakia’s air defenses.
In early April, US President Joe Biden proclaimed {that a} Patriot anti-aircraft battery could be repositioned in Slovakia. This technique can be retrieved from the stock of the US Army in Europe.
Beforehand, the Netherlands and Germany additionally sided with Slovakia’s donation, bolstering the nation by sending their Patriot batteries. On the time, the Slovak authorities heralded these Patriot batteries as dietary supplements to the nation’s air defenses, firmly stating they have been “not a substitute” for the S-300s gifted to Ukraine.
How does the Slovak S-300 assist Ukraine?
Within the early days of April 2022, Slovakia graciously gifted its S-300 air protection system to Ukraine. The act, a reference to Article 51 of the UN Constitution that endorses the appropriate to self-defense, aimed to spice up its neighboring ally’s defenses amid a Russian assault.
Although the S-300 won’t prime the record of superior air protection expertise, it has confirmed its price by successfully neutralizing enemy plane, drones, and missiles. Inside Ukraine, this method performs a important position in securing cities and important targets corresponding to nuclear energy vegetation. Whereas it could be an overstatement to say it will possibly defend giant territories, its efficiency in defending particular zones and positions is commendable.
Let’s revisit the onset of Russian hostilities when Ukraine owned dozens of S-300 methods. This data ought to guarantee us that the Ukrainian military is already conversant in the operations of the Slovakian system, setting the stage for its speedy implementation.
With out air protection and aviation
Earlier this yr, Slovak Protection Minister Robert Kalinak expressed his issues a few important deficiency in Slovakia’s protection capabilities throughout an interview with the native media outlet, the Commonplace.
Based mostly on our understanding, it seems that the earlier authorities prioritized strengthening the defenses of Kyiv, generously supplying them with S-300 air protection methods, a fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets, howitzers, and numerous different navy gear. Nevertheless, this has unintentionally resulted in a important vulnerability in Slovakia’s air defenses, as identified by Minister Kalinak.
“We’ve been left in a precarious scenario with none air protection methods or navy aviation. The projected 700 million euros in trade for the MiG fighter planes are nonetheless nowhere in sight. The previous administration additionally donated these planes to Ukraine,” he articulated sadly.
What’s the MIM-104 Patriot?
The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile [SAM] system, the first of its sort utilized by america Army and several other allied nations. It’s manufactured by the U.S. protection contractor Raytheon and derives its title from the radar element of the weapon system.
The Patriot System changed the Nike Hercules system because the U.S. Army’s main Excessive to Medium Air Protection [HIMAD] system and changed the MIM-23 Hawk system because the U.S. Army’s medium tactical air protection system.
Patriot’s traits
By way of technical traits, the MIM-104 Patriot is designed to detect, goal, and destroy incoming enemy plane and missiles. The system makes use of a complicated aerial interceptor missile and high-performance radar methods. The Patriot missile system is cell and could be transported to operational areas. It’s additionally versatile, able to defending in opposition to a variety of threats together with plane, drones, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.
The operational vary of the MIM-104 Patriot varies relying on the precise mannequin. The newest model, the MIM-104F, or PAC-3, has an operational vary of as much as 20 km [12 miles] and might attain altitudes of as much as 24 km [15 miles]. The missile itself is 5.2 m [17 ft] lengthy, weighs round 700 kg [1,500 lb], and might attain speeds of as much as Mach 5.
Patriot’s armament
The armament of the MIM-104 Patriot consists of its interceptor missiles. The system’s PAC-3 missile is a small, extremely agile, kinetic kill interceptor, which means it destroys its targets by colliding with them. The PAC-3 missile has a blast-fragmentation warhead and an energetic radar seeker, offering it with the power to hunt out and destroy targets by itself.
The MIM-104 Patriot operates by using a fancy technique of detection, resolution, and engagement. The system’s radar detects incoming threats, and the data is processed by the engagement management station. The system then decides on whether or not to have interaction the risk primarily based on its trajectory and risk stage.
If a call is made to have interaction, the system launches one in every of its interceptor missiles. The missile is guided in direction of the goal by the system’s radar and onboard computer systems and destroys the goal both by direct collision or by detonating its warhead close to the goal.
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