{"id":10867,"date":"2026-03-16T12:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=10867"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:45:00","slug":"war-in-ukraine-european-hypocrisyand-american-hypocrisy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/war-in-ukraine-european-hypocrisyand-american-hypocrisy\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine and the Middle East: The stockpile of MIM-104 Patriot anti-aircraft missiles is declining"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery unit, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, prepare a Patriot missile battery in January 2013 at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey (photo: U.S. Air Force – Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Iran has been conducting daily launches of hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles targeting countries in the region. The volume of these attacks is comparable to the intensity of the daily assaults perpetrated by Russia against Ukraine, even though the Russian air campaign has lasted for almost five years.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian authorities have stated that the country has received a limited supply of Patriot interceptors since the beginning of hostilities. Specifically, Kyiv has received approximately 600 missiles for the US-made Patriot air defense system since the start of the Russian invasion.<\/p>\n

Most of these interceptors have been supplied by European nations. However, these transfers required approval from the United States, as the system’s manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with Andrius Kubilius, the European Union’s High Representative for Defense, noted that the conflict in the Middle East has resulted in a high number of Patriot missile launches in a short period. They stated that more than 800 Patriot missiles were deployed during the first days of the Iran-Iraq War, which began on February 28, 2016.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The infographic from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense making the numbers clear (source: X – former Twitter).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

These interceptors were deployed to counter approximately 2,000 Iranian drones and 500 missiles targeting Israel and the Gulf states. These figures demonstrate the intensity of air defense operations during the initial phase of the conflict.<\/p>\n

With these numbers, Putin is celebrating. The confrontation with Iran could impact the flow of weapons to Ukraine. Unfortunately, the possibility that the conflict could disrupt future arms deliveries to the European country cannot be ruled out.<\/p>\n

For their part, Ukrainian authorities have proposed a swap agreement with their Western allies. Kyiv suggested exchanging their air defense interceptor drones for additional missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.<\/p>\n

The report also highlighted that Ukraine has ceased using Patriot interceptors against Iranian-designed Shahed drones. This decision was influenced by both military and financial considerations.<\/p>\n

The estimated cost of a Shahed drone does not exceed $50,000. In contrast, the unit cost of a Patriot interceptor missile is approximately $3 million.<\/p>\n

Various specialized aerospace media outlets continue to report that the global stockpile of Patriot missiles remains limited. This shortage is affecting the availability of interceptors for nations that rely on this system for their air defense. This is yet another reason to expedite <\/span>The glacial slowness of European defense<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The number of Patriot interceptor missiles used by the Persian Gulf nations and Israel in the initial stages of the conflict with Iran significantly exceeds the total supplied to Ukraine during the period of the large-scale Russian invasion. This fact underscores the scale of air defense operations at the beginning of the conflict, while also revealing a possible inconsistency in international support policy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":10869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defence"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Patriot-reload.jpg?fit=800%2C418&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1JKRl-2Ph","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10878,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/the-growing-air-defense-business\/","url_meta":{"origin":10867,"position":0},"title":"The growing air defense business","author":"Fernando Luis Puppio Guzm\u00e1n","date":"Monday 30 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"With the wars in Ukraine and Iran underway, the market for air and missile defense systems for NATO members and their allies is experiencing sustained and significant growth.","rel":"","context":"In "Defence & security"","block_context":{"text":"Defence & security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/144F-7.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/144F-7.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/144F-7.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/144F-7.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10804,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/10804-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":10867,"position":1},"title":"Forecast and trends in European defense in 2026","author":"Fernando Luis Puppio Guzm\u00e1n","date":"Monday 12 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The European defense sector is undergoing a transformation, driven by the expansion of financial instruments, an increasingly volatile geopolitical context, and the need to strengthen the continent's strategic autonomy. While NATO remains the primary security framework for the continent, rising national defense spending and stricter EU participation rules are altering\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Defence & security"","block_context":{"text":"Defence & security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Poland.jpg?fit=800%2C482&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Poland.jpg?fit=800%2C482&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Poland.jpg?fit=800%2C482&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Poland.jpg?fit=800%2C482&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10407,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/data-mining-for-argentine-viper-fleet-identities\/","url_meta":{"origin":10867,"position":2},"title":"Data mining for Argentine Viper identities…","author":"Carlos Ay","date":"Monday 24 February 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, visit to Tandil air base for the \"F-16 Weapons System Reception Ceremony\" acquired last year for the Argentine Air Force (FAA) provides an ideal time frame for our first complete forecast of the the 24 Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) airframes that will start\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Defence & security"","block_context":{"text":"Defence & security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Readying for Have Glass V?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3025\/02\/2025-02-13-F-16BM-Aalborg_Kurt-Saxkjaer-Milfly_Collection_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3025\/02\/2025-02-13-F-16BM-Aalborg_Kurt-Saxkjaer-Milfly_Collection_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3025\/02\/2025-02-13-F-16BM-Aalborg_Kurt-Saxkjaer-Milfly_Collection_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3025\/02\/2025-02-13-F-16BM-Aalborg_Kurt-Saxkjaer-Milfly_Collection_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7158,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/skyhawks-illustrated-12505-a-veteran-of-the-controversial-attack-on-hms-invincible\/","url_meta":{"origin":10867,"position":3},"title":"Skyhawks Illustrated #12505: A veteran of the controversial attack on HMS “Invincible”","author":"Guillermo Canosa","date":"Thursday 6 October 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Initially built for operation aboard American aircraft carriers, this particular Skyhawk had a rich operational history as it served in wartime, or near wartime, operations both in the United States Navy (USN) and later in the Argentine Air Force (FAA). One of its initial squadrons, VA-46 \"Clansmen\", was the first\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Defence & security"","block_context":{"text":"Defence & security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kill markings","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/3022\/09\/1985-11-29-0D0012_edited.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10821,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/the-great-restructuring-of-the-post-cold-war-defense-industry-a-new-era-of-agility-and-specialization\/","url_meta":{"origin":10867,"position":4},"title":"The great restructuring of the post-Cold War defense industry: A new era of agility and specialization","author":"Fernando Luis Puppio Guzm\u00e1n","date":"Thursday 5 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The US defense industry, traditionally dominated by a handful of giants born from post-Cold War consolidation, is on the verge of a radical transformation stemming from both Washington's interests and stock market investors.","rel":"","context":"In "Defence & security"","block_context":{"text":"Defence & security","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/category\/defence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LM2.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LM2.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LM2.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LM2.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/swiss-wef-09\/","url_meta":{"origin":10867,"position":5},"title":"Swiss Air Force secures World Economic Forum","author":"Robert Nispeling & Ronald de Roij - Karo Aviation","date":"Sunday 1 February 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"While the world\u2019s business and government leaders discussed effective solutions to battle the current economic crisis at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Swiss Armed forces were responsible for their security. 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