The United States has promised to help Ukraine acquire an air defense system with a longer range than the Stinger missiles already deployed on the ground, but it has proved easier said than done to find a more powerful air defense system that the Ukrainian military so desperately needs.
Before the Russian offensive on February 24, Ukraine had 250 S-300P systems and 72 Beech anti-aircraft missile systems, which were lost in the war.
The U.S. government has previously said it is considering assisting allies and partners in handing over various Soviet-era air defense systems to Ukraine, with a focus on those already in service with Ukraine's armed forces. CNN earlier reported that the U.S. and other NATO members are preparing new military assistance, including the 9K33 Osa Wasp (SA-8), S-300P (SA-10), S-300V (SA-12) surface-to-air missile system and the 9K34 Arrow-3 (SA-14) man-portable air defense missile.
Only three of nato's members currently have the S-300 series of anti-aircraft missile systems, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Greece. Bulgaria has an S-300PMU, Slovakia has an S-300, and Greece has 12 upgraded versions of the S-300PMU-1, an improved version of the S-300PMU, which includes a newer 30N6E radar and the ability to fire 48N6E interceptors. The 48N6E claims a maximum range of between 144 and 257 km. Greece also has 25 Doyle-M1 air defense systems.
Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and North Macedonia have the 9K-35 Arrow-10 system. Poland and Slovakia may still have stockpiles of decommissioning systems. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Romania are NATO countries that still have inventories of the 9K31 Arrow-1 system and are considered to be available for use on the front lines, while other NATO member states in Eastern Europe may still have decommissioned Inventory of the Arrow-1 system.
The United States is negotiating with Slovakia, Bulgaria and Greece to provide Ukraine with the S-300 air defense system it possesses. Slovakia has tentatively agreed to supply Ukraine with the S-300 air defense system, but hopes that the United States and NATO will guarantee that the country will immediately obtain an alternative air defense system.
Two other sources familiar with the talks said any country offering the S-300 could get a U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system to make up for the capabilities it would give up. Germany and the Netherlands have publicly announced that they will send patriots to Slovakia. But one person familiar with the matter warned that it could take time to integrate a new, complex air defense system into a country's existing military architecture and train its military to use it. In addition, German and Dutch patriots will not arrive in Slovakia immediately. The Dutch were not expected to be delivered until April 15 at the earliest, when time for the Ukrainian army was running out.
Greece, which has the most Soviet-made anti-aircraft weapons, has rejected the offer. According to sources, Greece has rejected an informal request from Ukraine to supply it with Soviet-era Doyle-M1 and Wasp anti-aircraft missile systems because the country believes its armed forces may still need them. In addition, General Constantinos Floros, chief of the Greek General Defense Staff, said greece was not considering handing over the S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. Floros told reporters: "Obviously, we are not considering the transfer or transfer of weapons, which will weaken the country's defense capabilities." In late February, after Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine, Athens sent two C-130 military transport aircraft to Ukraine, both of which were loaded with weapons.
Why doesn't the United States supply Ukraine with U.S.-made anti-aircraft weapons? For example, the Patriot missile, which is loaded on a trailer truck and has radar capable of automatically detecting and intercepting aircraft, drones or missiles with a radius of more than 100 kilometers, as well as a surveillance post guarded by 3 soldiers and a group of interceptor missiles, but the Ukrainian army has not been trained to use sophisticated American weapons. In addition, the United States does not have enough inventory to supply Ukraine.
In summary, Greece's refusal means that the U.S. plan to supply Ukraine with Soviet-made anti-aircraft weapons has basically failed. Even if other countries are willing to provide it, but the small number is just a drop in the bucket and will not help. (Power talks about the world / Zhang Mi)