The United States has sent approximately 90 interceptor missiles for the Patriot system to Ukraine, previously stored in Israel.
According to Axios, the shipment has already arrived in Poland for subsequent transfer to Ukrainian forces.
U.S. C-17 military transport aircraft transported the missiles from an airbase in southern Israel to Rzeszów, Poland—a key hub for Western military aid to Kyiv. Along with them, additional equipment, including radars for maintenance, was sent from the U.S.
How the Transfer Took Place
After the Israeli Defense Forces decided to decommission the missiles, Ukraine proposed transferring them to the U.S. for technical maintenance before sending them to the front lines.
However, according to Axios, Israeli authorities hesitated for a long time due to concerns about Moscow's reaction. A Ukrainian official reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unresponsive for an extended period, but approved the transfer in September.
Israel's Position
Israel has warned Moscow about this move, stating that it is formally only "returning the Patriot system to the U.S." rather than transferring weapons to Ukraine.
Netanyahu's office confirmed the transfer of air defense systems to the U.S. but stated they are unaware of their future use.
Background
In April 2024, Israel announced its decision to retire the Patriot systems, planning to replace them with modern systems.
These missiles distinguished themselves during the Gulf War in 1991, when they intercepted Iraqi Scuds. They were officially adopted into the Israeli arsenal that same year, with their first successful combat use recorded in 2014, when a Patriot shot down a Hamas drone.
Source: Axios