U.S. Delivers 847 Advanced Patriot Missiles to Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict
Since December 2022, when the U.S. first included a Patriot air defense system in its $1.85 billion military aid package to Ukraine, it has supplied at least 847 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, valued at approximately $3.26 billion. This was confirmed by analyzing U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) budget reports.
The need for advanced air defense systems arose following Russia’s successful deployment of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile in Ukraine in November 2022. In response, the Netherlands and the U.S. transferred additional Patriot batteries to Kyiv, with the U.S. prioritizing MSE missile deliveries. White House advisor John Kirby stated in June that these shipments would be expedited over the next 16 months.
The U.S. Army awarded a $4.5 billion contract to Lockheed Martin in June 2023 to procure more MSE missiles. Although the DOD did not initially specify the exact number of missiles transferred, budget reallocations provided insight. For fiscal year 2023, an additional $1.44 billion emergency fund was allocated, enabling the purchase of 375 MSE missiles. Similarly, $1.818 billion in supplemental funding for fiscal year 2024 supported the procurement of 472 missiles. Combined, this totals 847 MSE missiles, significantly exceeding initial procurement plans of 252 and 230 missiles for 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The U.S. Army’s overall goal, known as the Army Acquisition Objective, is to secure 3,376 MSE missiles to sustain its forces. Moreover, $199.27 million in emergency funds during fiscal year 2023 was allocated to replace Patriot system components such as radars and launching stations transferred to Ukraine.
This substantial aid underscores the U.S.’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, especially against advanced threats. However, it also highlights the financial and logistical demands of supporting such high-tech systems during an ongoing conflict.
