The Pentagon will soon bring Ukrainian troops to the United States, where they will be trained to use the Patriot missile defense system at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill.
The troops could be brought to the US as soon as next week, according to US officials.
🗣 US TO TRAIN UKRAINIAN FORCES IN OKLAHOMA
The Pentagon announced today around 100 Ukrainian forces will train to use the Patriot defense system at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Officials say the training is expected to last several months. @OKCFOX pic.twitter.com/cPPd1dwjC9
— Dan Snyder (@DanSnyderFOX25) January 10, 2023
Fort Sill sits on a massive 145 square miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
The Biden administration announced they would provide Ukraine with a Patriot missile system in December. The system is capable of shooting down both missiles and aircraft. However, it will not be sent until Ukrainian troops are adequately trained on how to use it.
Germany has also agreed to send Ukraine a Patriot missile system.
“A typical Patriot battery includes about 90 troops, though in the past U.S. personnel have conducted similar training only for a small number of their counterparts who then return to the battlefield and teach their comrades what they’ve learned. It’s an approach the Pentagon refers to as ‘train the trainer,’ and has been used since the war began to show Ukrainian forces how to operate drones, howitzers and other advanced systems,” the Washington Post reports.
Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed to Politico that there would be 90 to 100 Ukrainians trained on the system here over the next several months.
“Once fielded, the Patriot will contribute to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and provide another capability to the Ukrainian people to defend themselves against Russia’s ongoing attacks,” Ryder said, according to the report.
The report states that the troops will be provided with classroom instruction, time in a simulator, and exposure to the system.
“A variety of factors are taken into account in terms of: How is this capability going to be employed in Ukraine? What are the kinds of tactics, techniques and procedures that will be most relevant to them to employ on the battlefield? And how can we adjust the curriculum in order to expedite the training, recognizing again that there’s a fight going on and that we need to get this system there,” Ryder said.
Politico noted, “the U.S. has committed more than $24.2 billion to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. The most recent tranche of $2.2 billion to Kyiv, announced last week, included 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.”
