Open-source intelligence (OSINT) reports released yesterday revealed that Israel had delivered at least one of its Patriot launchers, along with a batch of 90 missiles, to the U.S. After a brief technical review, the U.S. is expected to transfer them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to strengthen its air defense network. These systems had been officially decommissioned by the Israeli Air Force after more than 30 years of service, losing prominence due to the development of domestic air defense systems.

Providing some details from the reports indicating that the transfer is already underway—following months of discussions between Ukrainian, U.S., and Israeli officials—a recent flight by a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III stands out. The aircraft traveled from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Nevatim Air Base in Israel, where it remained for about three hours before departing for Rzeszow International Airport in Poland. This final destination is significant, as it is one of the main hubs for the delivery of Western military aid to Ukraine, suggesting that the 90 missiles may have already been handed over for immediate use.

When contacted by Axios, Israeli officials—speaking on condition of anonymity—supported these claims, confirming that a Patriot system had been delivered to the U.S., though they were unsure whether its transfer to Ukraine had been completed following the necessary inspections. The news is not entirely surprising, considering that Ukrainian officials had been advocating for the transfer of these batteries—after U.S. refurbishment—since Israel announced their decommissioning.

Expanding on this, officials in Jerusalem stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration was initially reluctant to approve the transfer, fearing that Russia would see it as an escalation and respond by increasing its support for Iran. It was not until last November that the Israeli government decided to proceed with the operation, amid rumors of a negotiation between Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the authorization of Orthodox Jewish pilgrimages to Ukraine. Additionally, reports suggest that Israel notified Russia in advance, emphasizing that the batteries were being transferred to the U.S., not directly to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, as previously reported this month, the Knesset (Israel’s unicameral legislature) is debating a potential transfer of Soviet-origin weapons from the Israeli Armed Forces to Ukraine. These weapons were seized during military operations against terrorist groups over the past year and a half in Gaza and Lebanon. Unlike the Patriot system transfer, this concerns primarily infantry and artillery equipment, accounting for approximately 60% of the captured material.

Returning to the replacement of the Patriot batteries with locally developed systems, it is worth recalling that Israel has developed the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling systems for this purpose. These, along with support from Western allied forces, have proven effective in countering various Iranian attacks. Back in February 2024, the Israel Defense Forces acknowledged this transition, foreshadowing the retirement of U.S.-made systems: “(…) as part of operational efficiency processes within the Air Force, it was decided that several batteries of the ‘Yahlom’ system (Editor’s Note: Patriot) will be phased out, and their personnel will undergo a multi-week conversion training to operate the Iron Dome defense system.”

Furthermore, following the trend of developing and acquiring high-powered laser-based air defense systems, Israel awarded a contract worth over $200 million to Elbit Systems in October for the acquisition of its advanced Iron Beam system. This system has already passed advanced testing in Gaza and can generate between 100 and 150 kW of power using its two laser cannons. This makes it particularly effective against enemy rockets and missiles while offering a significantly lower operational cost compared to current missile-based solutions.

Images used for illustrative purposes.

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