Originally Posted by
Tartiflette Fan
In this YT video from Denys Davydov, he talks about air-defence at 7:00 and says that deployment of Patriot is probably awaiting the much -heralded counter-attack. Since these are mobile systems, I really don't understand why they would not have used them since arrival ( 6-8 weeks ago ? ) unless it is restricted missile-supply ( over $ 1 million per piece ) and they are saving them to counter Russian air-power when they make their big push.
There is also mention of a large explosion at Simferopol military airport which the Russkis claim was a plane going supersonic, but there is accompanying video showing a large plume of smoke. Speculation of drone attack.
DD also reports the UKR Defence Minister saying that the counter-attack will happen in late April/early May !!. At 17:45 DD shows his regular war-map and talks through different possibilities for this action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_zdFWwaWps
It is now clear that Patriot has not reached Ulraine at all yet. This was 21-Mar-2023 which suggests earliest is mid-to-late April for arrival of Patriot-stuff from USA+Germany+Netherlands, and not entirely clear on how much stuff.
"Meanwhile, 65 Ukrainians are wrapping up training on the Patriot missile system at Fort Sill, Okla., in the coming days, base military officials said as they hosted a small group reporters to view the instruction. The Ukrainian air defenders and two donated Patriot systems will be on the battlefield in a matter of weeks, after training began in mid-January. ........... Once the Ukrainian soldiers complete training at Fort Sill, they will travel to a location in Europe, where they will join a separate group of Ukrainian soldiers who are learning to use Patriot systems donated by the Germans and the Dutch. The groups will then return to the battlefield with the new Patriot equipment in the coming weeks, officials said. The components of the U.S.-donated Patriot system will come from different locations across the country, officials said. The Ukrainians will assemble the parts into one complete system in their country. "
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/0...raine-00088098
Which in turn tends to suggest that the SAM-systems that have been problematic so far may include either Crotale (from France) and/or NASAAMS (from Norway), and didn't I have a vague memory that some of the PAAMS-derivative went from Italy. Could be one or more of those three. I'm sure everyone is trying their hardest to solve whatever are/were the difficulties.