Additional US Patriot missile interceptors are set to be moved from storage in Israel and Europe to Ukraine to aid in its defense against Russian attacks, as reported recently.

As part of this effort, one Patriot defense system has already been transported from Israel to be upgraded for use in Kyiv. Western allies are also considering sending another set of these weapons from either Germany or Greece, The New York Times revealed.

Earlier this year, Israel dispatched approximately 90 Patriot launchers, but the majority are currently undergoing refurbishment in Poland before being transferred to Ukraine.

The Patriot defense system, which the US initially gave to Israel more than 30 years ago during the first Gulf War, is a mobile interceptor surface-to-air missile system that targets and destroys enemy rocket fire before it hits its intended target.

The Patriot system was eventually replaced by Israel’s own missile defense set-ups, including the Iron Dome and Arrow, leaving the American-made launchers and batteries officially decommissioned in April 2024.

A Patriot system costs around $1 billion to build and about 90 soldiers to operate, with an estimated 186 of them believed to be in operation across the globe in areas of conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky long sought to get a hold of the Patriots to aid his nation, with a deal finalized in September 2024 between Kyiv, Washington and Jerusalem.

While Kyiv currently has eight of the systems, only six are up and running and have been used so far, mostly to protect the capital as the Kremlin ramps up its attacks on Kyiv.

Zelensky has continued to seek more Patriot systems in Ukraine, telling President Trump that Kyiv is “ready to purchase the necessary number of Patriot systems for our country.”

The plea came after Russia launched its deadliest attack on Kyiv on April 24, killing 13 people and injuring nearly 90 others. Russian strikes have only ramped up since the US-led peace talks began in February.

Given the sheer number of missiles and drones that Russia is capable of firing at once, Ukraine’s defenses often struggle to intercept all the attacks, Kyiv officials said.

Experts also believe that Russia’s increased intensity of attacks is meant to deplete Ukraine’s already hemorrhaging air defense ammo.

Even if Kyiv gets the systems it needs, the equipment may not have a 100% success rate in fending off Russia’s bombardment, as evident by the latest issue with Israel’s more advanced defense system.

The Jewish state saw not only its Arrow but also the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system fail when a Houthi rocket struck near the Gen Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday, the Times of Israel reported.