May 7, 2023
The US has high confidence in the accuracy of Ukraine’s claim that it used an American-made Patriot air defense system to intercept a Russian hypersonic missile, according to a source familiar with the matter.
While the Patriot system has been successful in countering ballistic missiles, its ability to stop air-launched hypersonic missiles was purely theoretical before last week. Ukraine’s intercept has now provided a real-world demonstration of that capability — something that has been viewed within the Pentagon as a major development, the source said.
Ukraine’s intercept claim created buzz within the Pentagon late last week, the source added, noting it is significant for several reasons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly touted the capabilities of Russia’s hypersonic weapons and cast them as capable of overcoming all existing air defense systems.
Production of hypersonic ballistic missiles has always been challenging for Russia and sanctions have only made it more difficult.
But prior to last week, Russia’s calculus was that if it did use a hypersonic ballistic missile, whatever it was shooting at would assuredly get hit, the source said. This intercept has called that calculation into question, they continued.
The fact that this intercept was conducted by a Ukrainian crew that was trained in Oklahoma, but had no US advisers on the battlefield, is even more of a feather in the cap for the Pentagon, the source added, calling it a major return on investment.
The intercept also has likely caused a severe amount of uncertainty for Russia, raising the question of whether Ukraine is in possession of a sustainable countermeasure against hypersonic ballistic missiles, the source added.
“But prior to last week, Russia’s calculus was that if it did use a hypersonic ballistic missile, whatever it was shooting at would assuredly get hit, the source said. This intercept has called that calculation into question, they continued.”
The Patriots have put a big question mark behind every use of a very expensive “hypersonic” missile. I put it in parentheses because to me, its performance has never been proven beyond any shadow of doubt. It’s only claimed by mafia land, and we know what to do when mafia land claims something. At any rate, its claimed invincibility has been shattered. Pun intended.
This is a huge deal not just for the Pentagon but also Ukraine and the other allies that are using the Patriot system. I suppose it is rather hard to simulate shooting down a hyper sonic enemy missile. If Ukraine can get enough of these they may be able to stop all the Moskali threats and the real peace could begin because Vladolf’s tool box is about empty now.
And a Patriot system near 0desa asap.