Weeks after asserting that the U.S. would ship one Patriot air protection battery and related munitions to Ukraine, a Pentagon official mentioned Ukrainian troopers will come to the U.S. to coach on the Patriot system in order that they’ll be prepared to make use of it when it is delivered.
“Coaching for Ukrainian forces on the Patriot air protection system will start as quickly as subsequent week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Power Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder mentioned as we speak. “The coaching will put together roughly 90 to 100 Ukrainian troopers to function, keep and maintain the defensive system over a coaching course anticipated to final a number of months.”
Prior to now few months, the Russians have elevated their aerial bombardment of Ukraine, Ryder mentioned, and the Patriot will assist the Ukrainians stand as much as that assault.
“The Patriot will contribute to the air protection capabilities that Ukraine already has,” he mentioned. “It is one thing that can allow them to take down … ballistic missiles, adversary plane; [it’s] actually as much as them on how they make use of it. However that is a part of a broader effort by the US and the worldwide group to supply Ukraine with the air protection capabilities that it must defend its inhabitants and its armed forces.”
Fort Sill is house to the schoolhouse the place the Military trains its troopers and repair members from allied and associate nations on utilizing the Patriot system. Now, Ukrainian troopers will prepare there, as properly.
Ryder mentioned coaching for these Ukrainian troopers will embrace classroom work, hands-on coaching with the Patriot methods, in addition to a simulation lab. It would additionally concentrate on what the Ukrainians will want as soon as they’re again house.
“The coaching can be tailor-made to supply related techniques, methods and procedures primarily based on the battlefield circumstances in Ukraine to allow them to make use of that to most impact as soon as they’re again in Ukraine,” Ryder mentioned.
Since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the US has offered Ukraine with greater than $24.2 billion in safety help. That help has included ammunition, automobiles, plane, unmanned aerial automobiles, radar methods, small arms, artillery, air protection methods, anti-aircraft and anti-armor methods.
Subsequent week, Ryder mentioned, Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Military Gen. Mark A. Milley will journey to Germany to host one other assembly of the Ukraine contact group of worldwide protection chiefs. Ryder mentioned the group has helped establish, synchronize and guarantee supply of the capabilities the Ukrainians have wanted to defend towards Russian aggression.
“The secretary appears to be like ahead to assembly with protection leaders from the roughly 50 nations [comprising] this essential group devoted to Ukraine self-defense,” he mentioned.