Ukrainians to start training with Patriot SAM systems in US next week
The Ukrainian military will begin training with Patriot missile systems in the United States as early as next week.
Source: European Pravda; CNN, citing two US officials familiar with the matter
Details: The training programme will take place at the Fort Sill base in Oklahoma, where the US conducts their own training in the operation and maintenance of an advanced air defence system.
Fort Sill is one of the four US Army base training centres that serves as a host to the Field Artillery School, which has been training soldiers for more than a century now.
It is expected that the training of Ukrainians under the complex system will take "several months", said Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia.
"I won't be able to give specific deadlines for completing the training," Cooper said last week.
Background:
- On Wednesday, 21 December 2022 Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, officially announced a new US$1.85 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which includes a supply of Patriot air defence systems for the first time.
- On 4 January, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said the US has already begun preparations for the transfer of Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine.
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