Ukraine's fate against Russia's superior air force hinges on its dwindling surface-to-air missile arsenal, airpower expert warns

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 16:55

A shot of a Patriot missile battery firing an interceptor in a US Army test. The Patriot missile defense system is a ground-based interceptor able to eliminate airborne threats.
US Army photo

Russia's air force has an edge over Ukraine's aircraft, requiring Ukraine to rely on other capabilities.
Fighting off Russia's air force is dependent on Ukraine's surface-to-air missiles, a new report says.
But leaked US intelligence shows that Ukraine's SAM inventory has reached critical levels.

Ukraine's ability to keep Russia's superior air force at bay relies heavily on its inventory of surface-to-air missiles, a new report argues, but leaked US intelligence documents indicate Kyiv's air defenses could be in trouble, making support from its partners critical.