Ukraine’s Patriot Defenses to Receive High-Tech Boost With US D-PICC Coordination System

Ukraine’s Patriot air defense batteries will receive the D-PICC (Deployable Planning and Integration Coordination Center) to enhance coordination with other air defense assets.

Canadian researcher Colby Budwar reported in Defense Archives, citing government documents, that a December 2024 US Congressional report allocated $11 million for D-PICC as part of military aid to Ukraine.

D-PICC functions as a remote coordination hub at the battalion level, integrating data from Patriot missile systems, processing real-time airspace information, and issuing missile launch commands. One of its key advantages is its ability to be deployed in field conditions, operating at a significant distance from the air defense batteries, making it highly flexible.

The US Army first used a similar system in Okinawa in 2018, linking four Patriot batteries under one command.

The Congressional report also details the procurement of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) components, the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), an Engagement Operations Center (EOC), and an Integrated Collaborative Environment (ICE).

IAMD networks all Patriot radars, weapons, and command elements, while IBCS enhances situational awareness by integrating multiple radar sources.

This upgrade is expected to replace outdated command and communication systems currently used by Ukraine’s Patriot batteries, including PAC-2 systems supplied by Germany. The new networked equipment will improve operational efficiency, enhance coordination with other air defense systems, and integrate seamlessly with Western fighter aircraft.

Earlier on February 7, reports emerged that a powerful explosion struck a Russian military facility just outside Moscow, with the blast reportedly destroying two 117Zh6 RLK-MC Valday radar systems—Russia’s latest anti-drone technology designed for round-the-clock detection and electronic warfare, according to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence.