What is Patriot missile? Trump plans to send 'most advanced' US air defence system to Ukraine after 'disappointing' call with Putin

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (July 5) that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to end the Ukraine war, adding that he was "very unhappy" with the July 3 phone call between the two leaders. "It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good. I wasn't happy with it," Trump told reporters.

When asked about supplying Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, he replied, “Yeah, we might.” "They're going to need something because they're being hit pretty hard," Trump added.

This is not the first time Trump has said he would give Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv. “We’re going to see if we can make some available. You know, they’re very hard to get,” Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague. He was responding to questions about whether Washington would send more air defence help to Kyiv. Trump added, “We were supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective.”

“They do want that more than any other thing,” he said. The US-built Patriot systems are currently critical in defending Ukrainian cities from incoming Russian ballistic missiles, which have intensified in recent weeks.

What is the Patriot missile system?

The Patriot, short for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is the US Army’s most advanced surface-to-air missile system. It can intercept tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and modern aircraft across all altitudes and in all weather conditions.

The system is combat-tested and has been used by the US and its allies for decades. It first saw action during the 1991 Gulf War and was also used during the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Who uses it?

Apart from the United States, several other countries operate the Patriot system, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and more. In recent years, countries like Poland, Sweden, Romania, and Taiwan have also acquired the system to boost their defences.

Key features of the Patriot air defence system

• Mobile system: Includes radar units, command and control stations, power generators, and missile launchers, all mounted on trucks.

• Advanced tracking: Uses a track-via-missile (TVM) guidance system, which receives midcourse correction signals from the ground.

• Range and altitude: Depending on the version, Patriot interceptors can hit targets up to 160 km away and at altitudes of over 24 km.

• Radar reach: The system’s radar can detect targets over 150 km away.

• Quick response: Interceptor missiles can launch within nine seconds, with flight times ranging up to three and a half minutes.