US weapon beats Russia’s feared missile in a slap to the face.

U.S.-Made Patriot Air Defense System Shoots Down Russian Hypersonic Missile in Ukraine

A Historic Event for Ukraine

In a historic event, the Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk claimed that the newly-acquired U.S.-made Patriot air defense system was used to shoot down a Russian hypersonic missile called Kinzhal, or “Dagger” in Russian. “Congratulations to the Ukrainian people on a historic event!” Oleshchuk posted on Telegram. “Yes, we brought down the ‘unparalleled’ Kinzhal!”

A Slap in the Face for Russia

Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said that intercepting the nuclear-capable Kinzhal was “a slap in the face for Russia” because the Russians “were saying that the Patriot is an outdated American weapon, and Russian weapons are the best in the world.” “Well, there is confirmation that it effectively works against even a super-hypersonic missile,” he added.

The Invincible Kinzhal

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in 2018 that the Kinzhal was “invincible against all existing and prospective missile defense and counter-air defense systems.” The Kinzhal can reportedly fly at five to 10 times the speed of sound and it travels at a lower elevation than a ballistic missile, making it much more difficult to shoot down.

The Patriot Air Defense System

The Patriot, which stands for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target, is one of America’s most advanced surface-to-air missile defense systems. Each installation consists of “a powerful radar, control station, power generator, launch stations and support vehicles.” The Patriot fires three types of missiles, one of which — the Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) — is designed to destroy missiles like the Kinzhal.

Confirmation of the Patriot’s Effectiveness

The New York Times reported that U.S. officials verified using technical means that a Patriot missile was used to destroy the feared Russian hypersonic weapon. The Washington Post reported that prior to the Patriot air defense systems arriving in Ukraine, the nation’s missile systems couldn’t even react to the speed of the Kinzhal. The Patriot, which costs approximately $1 billion per installation, was designed in the 1970s and the first Patriot was delivered in December 1981.

Conclusion

The successful interception of the Kinzhal missile by the Patriot air defense system is a significant achievement for Ukraine and a confirmation of the Patriot’s effectiveness against even the most advanced hypersonic missiles.