Patriots to move to Kyiv 'as quickly as possible', says NATO top commander

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

July 17, 2025 5:24 AM EDT Updated 8 hours ago


WIESBADEN, Germany, July 17 (Reuters) - Preparations are underway to quickly transfer additional Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, NATO's top military commander Alexus Grynkewich said on Thursday, as the country suffers some of the heaviest Russian attacks of the war so far.

"We are working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer", he told a conference in the German city of Wiesbaden. "The guidance that I have been given has been to move out as quickly as possible."

U.S. President Donald Trump this week announced a toughened stance against Russia for its more than three-year war in Ukraine and promised new missiles and other weaponry for Kyiv. He said on Tuesday that some Patriot missiles, coming from Germany, were already on their way to Ukraine.

A meeting of Patriot-owning nations and Ukraine donors, aimed at finding additional Patriot air defence batteries for Kyiv and chaired by Grynkewich, could take place on Wednesday next week, a source close to the talks told Reuters. The expert level meeting is expected to be held at NATO's military headquarters SHAPE near the Belgian town of Mons, according to the source.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/patriots-move-kyiv-as-quickly-possible-says-nato-top-commander-2025-07-17/

[FredGarvin]

1. North Korean ballistic missiles are cheap and apparentely plentiful

Patriot missile batteries are needed to counter them but are VERY expensive and in short supply.

Ukraine is being bombarded by North Korean supplied missiles and unable to defend itself because of a lack of resources.

I wonder where all those dollars went?

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Ukraine has their own drone presence - all types

I saw this earlier today - https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/enter-kill-zone-ukraines-drone-infested-front-slows-russian-advance-2025-07-17/



From what I understand about NK is that their stuff isn't always that accurate either.

[FredGarvin]

3. Patriot missiles are not used against drones

Slava Ukraine!

[BumRushDaShow]

4. They can be used with armed drones

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/europe/trump-ukraine-patriot-missile-batteries-intl-hnk-ml

(snip)

The latest versions of Patriot interceptors are capable of engaging incoming short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at altitudes up to 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) and distances of up to 35 kilometers.

(snip)

And especially since Russia has been using more drones (since they are cheap and have been endlessly supplied by Iran).

As a sidenote, one of my cousins was on the original Raytheon team that designed the early Patriot systems way back.