Media: Biden sets conditions for transfer of Patriot systems to Ukraine

The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system manufactured by the US company Raytheon. According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the MIM-104 Patriot is the main anti-missile and air defense system in the US Army's arsenal.

"The Washington Post, citing sources, reported:

A senior US administration official said Biden would sign a plan to give Ukraine the Patriot system only after the Pentagon had answered all questions about training and maintenance, the legality of the transfer and its impact on US military readiness.

The US Department of Defence is now working on the parameters of the training programme, which is expected to take place in Germany. Under normal conditions, the training could last more than six months.

The publication points out that the complexes will be supplied from US formations, but not from operational units.

The source also said that the Pentagon is taking a risk by deploying the Patriot system:

I think they decided that because the need for air defence was so great, they were willing to take a risk, which was not the case in the past