Spanish Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks and Patriot Air Defense System Arrive in Ukraine.

A new batch of Patriot missiles from Spain arrived in Ukraine on Friday, June 21, 2024, as part of Madrid’s ongoing military support to Kyiv amidst continuous Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This information was reported by El Mundo, with a government source confirming the arrival of the Patriots, along with Leopard 2A4 tanks in Ukraine.
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The Patriot system is a long-range, all-weather, all-altitude air defense missile designed in the United States and used by several countries. (Picture source: US DoD)

Spanish officials confirmed the delivery to El Mundo, revealing that it included not only the Patriot missiles but also the second batch of Leopard tanks, 155mm artillery shells, anti-drone systems, optical surveillance and tracking systems, and remote weapon turrets.

This latest shipment is part of the military package announced by Madrid during the Ramstein format meeting on May 20, 2024.

Earlier, El Pais reported Spain's commitment to send a dozen Patriot missiles to Ukraine. However, it remains uncertain if this number pertains to the latest shipment, as government officials have not commented on the report. In early May, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles mentioned that Spain had already sent an unspecified number of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

The arrival of additional Patriot missiles aims to bolster Kyiv's defenses against Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. This year, Ukraine has already faced eight major attacks that have severely impacted its energy production capabilities.

Additionally, on May 26, Spain promised €1 billion ($1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine for 2024 as part of the bilateral security agreement between Kyiv and Madrid.

The Patriot system is a long-range, all-weather, all-altitude air defense missile designed in the United States and used by several countries, including Germany, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Each Patriot missile has a launch weight of approximately 700 kg (1,540 lbs) and is about 5.2 meters (17 feet) long. Its range varies between 20 and 35 km (12 to 22 miles), allowing it to intercept targets at considerable distances. The missile reaches a top speed of Mach 5, which is approximately 3,836 mph (6,173 km/h).

The guidance system of the Patriot missile is particularly sophisticated. It is equipped with an active radar seeker located in the nose of the missile, allowing it to autonomously track and engage targets. This guidance system is complemented by mid-course updates from a ground-based radar and the missile's onboard inertial navigation system. The radar associated with the Patriot system is the AN/MPQ-65.

A notable feature of the Patriot PAC-3 missile is its "hit-to-kill" approach, meaning it does not have an explosive warhead. Instead, it destroys its target through the kinetic energy generated by the missile's direct impact. This mode of destruction is made possible by the solid rocket motor that propels the missile towards its target.

The Leopard 2A4 is a main battle tank designed in Germany, widely used by numerous countries, including Austria, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and of course, Ukraine.

This tank is equipped with a 120mm L55 smoothbore gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and an anti-aircraft 7.62mm machine gun mounted on the loader's hatch. In terms of protection, it features standard-spaced multilayer armor with improved protection on the front of the turret. The interior of the turret is also fitted with spall liners for better crew protection.

The Leopard 2A4 weighs 62,000 kg in combat condition and can reach a maximum road speed of 72 km/h. It has an operational range of 500 km, allowing it to cover great distances without frequent refueling.

The tank is equipped with several accessories, including infrared night vision and an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system, enabling the four-person crew to operate effectively in various combat conditions. In terms of dimensions, the Leopard 2A4 is 7.70 meters long, 3.70 meters wide, and 3.00 meters high.

However, this information has not been officially confirmed by either Spain or Ukraine, and no images have been published on social media. Nevertheless, this would represent substantial aid for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, particularly regarding the Patriot systems, as Ukraine has a significant deficit in its air defense capabilities.

The Leopard 2A4 is a main battle tank designed in Germany. ( Picture Source: Army Recognition)