How Western Partners Have Helped Strengthen Ukrainian Air Defense

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, assistance from the West and their partners has helped strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

On August 28th, 2024, NATO-Ukraine Council focused on plans to bolster missile defense over Western Ukraine. This came after Russia launched its largest missile attack against Ukraine on August 26th, 2024.

“Two days ago, the terrorist state launched more than 200 missiles and drones, killing innocent people and destroying critical infrastructure,” wrote Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Russia has sent an extensive amount of missiles at Ukraine, launching unprecedented air attacks, often sending fleets of Iranian-made Shahed drones in an attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense. Supplies from the West, though positive, are still not enough to completely repel Russian air attacks, even with Ukraine’s recent high success rates in eliminating incoming Russian targets.

At the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine heavily relied on Soviet-era S-300 and Buk M1 medium-range anti-missile systems. These systems were a problem because their missiles were largely supplied by Russia, so the number in Ukraine’s arsenal quickly dwindled. 

Russia has been receiving support from countries such as Iran and North Korea, who have been replenishing their arsenal at a timely rate. North Korea has likely sent nearly 5 million artillery shells to Russia and might agree to send even more during Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Pyongyang. It's unknown exactly how many weapons Russia has received from Iran, but their Shahed drones are constantly attacking Ukraine. Recently, Reuters reported that Iran intends to deliver hundreds of satellite-guided weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

The unprecedented scale of Russia’s missile and drone attacks against Ukraine continues to underline the importance of Western collaboration and ensure Ukraine has a robust air defense.

How have Western partners supported Ukraine’s air defense?

In July 2024, the White House announced that five countries would supply Ukraine with "hundreds of additional air defense interceptors over the next year.” The US, Germany, Romania, Netherlands, and Italy are donating Patriot batteries, components and an additional SAMP-T system. 

The US and partners also previously stated that they intend to provide Ukraine with dozens more tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS, HAWK, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepard. These air defense systems will be in addition to those Ukraine has already received.

The F-16 fighter jets have been a main talking point in bolstering Ukrainian air defense. The first batch of F-16 fighter jets were delivered on August the 4th, 2024, and are currently in operation, with more expected to arrive over the coming months.

The exact figure of jets to be received remains undisclosed, but F-16 deliveries are being made possible due to collaboration efforts between Ukraine and the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium.

The Immediate Action in Air Defense Initiative and their partners have pledged more than US $1 billion in support for Ukraine's air defense.

In February 2024, 15 countries signed an agreement of intent to create a new “Coalition of Capabilities - Integrated Air and Missile Defense (NATO IAMD)” to facilitate and coordinate assistance in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense.

The coalition provides coordination of all available air and missile defense capabilities, along with training and exercises playing a significant role. Germany, France and the USA are the leading countries in the coalition, joined by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium and Ukraine.

A security agreement between the G7 announced in July 2024, with Poland being the latest to sign, will enhance cooperation between Ukraine and the West in their air defense industry. The agreement includes developing a mechanism designed to shoot down Russian missiles and drones launched in the Poland direction, amongst other military and economic support frameworks. 

Germany has been the second largest country of military support to Ukraine. The US being the lead. In early July 2024, it was reported that they had sent their third Patriot system to Ukraine, a quarter of their own supply. Germany has trained Patriot operators and transferred Patriot missiles. 

Rheinmetall, a Düsseldorf-based technology group, has supplied Ukraine with air defense systems called Skynex, along with ammunition, tanks, fighting vehicles and more. The first Skynex system was sent to Ukraine in 2023, with more being sent in 2024 and follow-up orders already placed for 2025. Recently, Rheinmetall signed a memorandum of understanding aiming to develop further areas for closer cooperation between them and the Ukrainian defense industry. In June 2024, Rheinmetall launched a maintenance hub in the West of Ukraine with the aims to develop and rebuild Ukraine’s defense industry. 

What systems Ukraine has received so far and what can they do?

The West has supplied Ukraine with a variety of systems, each with their own specific capabilities. Having a wide range of air defense systems covers the wide range of Russian air attacks. Some of the most advanced Western air defense systems supplied to Ukraine are as follows:

Patriot is the most advanced US air defense system. It is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and has the ability to engage a wide range of threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and even ballistic missiles. 

The NASAMS, short for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, is a US system that defends against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, cruise missiles, and fixed-wing aircraft. Its missiles can be fired from a stand-alone pod or from the back of a truck.The HAWK is a medium-range, surface-to-air guided missile system that is a predecessor to the Patriot. It is no longer used by the US but by some of its allies. Spain sent the Hawk system to Ukraine, and the US sent some from its storage. 

The German IRIS T systems (SLM & SLS)  are medium-range and short-range systems. IRIS T is surface-to-air and has been effective against Russian cruise missiles, including low-flying missiles such as the Kalibr. The Gepard is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun that has become specifically useful for drone attacks. Germany sent their first batch as early as July 2022. Germany has sent 52 including spare parts. 

SAMP/T is a ground-based mobile system that is capable of tracking dozens of targets and intercepting ten at a time, useful for an incoming fleet of drones. It is the only EU-produced system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

According to reports, one Patriot missile, which is in short supply, costs around US$3 million to launch, whereas one Shahed cost Russia US $100,000-200,000 to launch. This is where other Western systems, such as the Gepard, become beneficial in repelling drone attacks. 

Ukraine and its Western allies are also working on innovative hybrid air defense, such as the FrankenSAM project. 

Air defense systems generally consist of three key elements: radar, launcher, and missiles. In Ukraine, Soviet systems are available which may have launchers but no missiles. In some cases, Western launchers may be available, but without the critical part — the radar. Ukraine has merged all the various parts together to create one system. 

This Ukrainian / American prototype mixing system showcases the increasingly innovative collaborations between Ukraine and its allies.

Air defense is generally focused on securing highly populated civilian cities; therefore mobile air defense units need to adapt in areas less protected. Recently, a video surfaced of a Ukrainian shooting down a missile with a machine gun. A true testament to Ukraine’s mobile air defense units' improved abilities.

As Russian air attack continues, Ukraine and their Western allies continue to collaborate and enhance Ukraine’s air defense. More systems and their missiles are coming, but more needs to be done in order to completely clear Ukrainian skies.