Russia announced that it shot down 3 Patriot SAM launchers in one day

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have destroyed several US Patriot air defense system launchers in one day as part of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. According to a Ministry of Defense statement, on Thursday, August 1, Russian forces attacked three US Patriot air defense system launchers. Russia used a combination of drones, artillery and ground forces to attack the Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. Moscow also claimed to have shot down 14 US rocket launchers and an Army MGM-140 tactical missile system. PATRIOT (Phased Array Tracking Radar for Target Interception) is a highly sophisticated surface-to-air missile defense system and is considered one of the most modern weapon systems in the US arsenal. The United States has provided Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems to strengthen the country's defenses against a spate of Russian drone attacks. Ukraine will receive its first Patriot batteries from the United States in early 2023 to protect its airspace from heavy bombardment and constant artillery fire. Ukraine is set to receive $1.7 billion in additional military aid, U.S. officials announced Monday. The latest aid includes ammunition for anti-aircraft systems, artillery, mortars, anti-tank and anti-ship missiles. The package includes $1.5 billion in funding for long-term contracts under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $200 million in immediate military assistance through Department of Defense stock. The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system that utilizes advanced interceptor missiles and a sophisticated radar system. The system is used to intercept threats such as aircraft and ballistic missiles, and can also shoot down "kamikaze" drones commonly used by Russia. This comes after Lockheed Martin's F-16 fighter jets promised for Kiev arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday. The first shipment of the long-awaited F-16 fighter jets has been seen in action, marking a turning point for the war-torn country. The Kremlin announced that Russian forces would shoot down a US-made F-16 fighter jet sent to Ukraine, claiming that the F-16s would not have a significant impact on the course of the war. President Joe Biden agreed in August 2023 for used F-16s to be deployed to Ukraine; however, the U.S. won't provide any of its own planes. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway committed to gifting Ukraine with more than 60. Peter Stano, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told Newsweek: "Most of the claims coming from Moscow have no credibility whatsoever, are either propaganda or information manipulation or outright lies. "While the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the accompanying info war conducted by the Kremlin continue, we as the EU, together with our partners, will continue supporting Ukraine to defend itself." RUSI Military Sciences Director Matthew Savill told Newsweek: "Overall, the challenges for Ukraine in 2024 and potential answers remain the same as before this decision: resupply of equipment and ammunition, recruitment and training of personnel, and effective defences to prevent or slow down Russian ground advances. Deep strike is not a silver bullet." A newly produced single Patriot battery costs over $1 billion, with $400 million for the system and $690 million for the missiles in a battery, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. The Patriot system was first used in combat in the 1991 Gulf War, where it was used as a battery to protect Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel. This cutting edge military warfare was also used in the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. It is a mobile system that typically includes a powerful radar, control station, generator, launch station, and additional support vehicles. Surface-to-air missile radars have a range of over 150 km (93 miles). Systems have different capabilities depending on the type of interceptor used. The PAC-2 interceptor missile uses a fragmentation warhead, while the newer PAC-3 missile uses more advanced hit-to-kill technology. Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry and President Zelensky's office for comment.