Romanian authorities have approved a draft law allowing the transfer of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, according to Reuters, as cited by the Ukrainian news agency Unian.
The Patriot system is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. It will be sent to Ukraine once Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signs the bill.
But Romania has set a key condition.
Romania has been a NATO member since 2004. The country shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and has experienced airspace violations, including incidents involving Russian drones.
In response to ongoing Russian attacks, Romania will provide Ukraine with one of its two active Patriot systems, which is part of the country’s five-system arsenal.
According to a report by WP Tech, the condition for this support is clear: Romania will only part with its valuable air defense system if NATO allies provide a replacement Patriot unit.
The Patriot System
The Patriot air defense system was originally developed in response to missile threats in the 1970s and 1980s. Over the decades, it has been updated to meet modern military needs and challenges.
The system includes key components: a radar, launchers, and a command center. The radar detects and tracks incoming targets, while the launchers fire PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles to neutralize threats.
The PAC-2 missile is designed to explode near a target, using a shockwave to destroy it.
Meanwhile, the PAC-3 missile directly hits the target, offering greater precision. The system's advanced radar technology can detect targets hundreds of kilometers away, ensuring early warning and effective interception.
