File image.
On April 8, Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced that his country had sent its S-300PMU long-range air-defense system to Ukraine.
“I would like to confirm that Slovakia has provided Ukraine with an air-defense system S-300. Ukrainian nation is bravely defending its sovereign country and us too,” Heger said in a Tweet.
NATO member Slovakia has been operating a single battery of the Soviet-made S-300PMU air-defense system which it inherited after the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
The S-300PMU is an old export version of the S-300 system. Slovakia had no more than 45 5V55R anti-aircraft missiles for the S-300PMU system. The 5V55R, which is guided by semi-active radar homing, has a range of up to 75 kilometers. All 45 missiles were reportedly transferred with the system to Ukraine.
Slovakia 🇸🇰 provided #Ukraine 🇺🇦 with S-300 #air-defence system to support their self-defence from illegal unprovoked aggression.Thanks to Allies, fourth #Patriot battery to be deployed in #Slovakia in upcoming days. #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/XaqTOZLo26
— Ministerstvo obrany SR 🇸🇰 (@mosr_official) April 8, 2022
Slovakia sends Ukraine its S-300 anti-aircraft missile defence system https://t.co/tllt9Djn3Z pic.twitter.com/O6VDoLtmVD
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) April 8, 2022
🗞️🇸🇰 Slovakia has delivered S-300 surface-to-air missile system to #Ukraine, says https://t.co/ujlJablRis #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/Xtt0kiGus9
— MilitaryLand.net (@Militarylandnet) April 8, 2022
Following Heger’s announcement, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the US will deploy a Patriot missile defense system, along with American troops to operate it, in Slovakia.
“Their deployment length has not yet been fixed, as we continue to consult with the Slovakian government about more permanent air defense solutions,” Austin said.
In March, NATO allies Germany and Netherlands deployed three Patriot systems in Slovakia to facilitate the transfer of the country’s S-300PMU system to Ukraine.
Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to NATO states for air-defense systems. The Russian military has destroyed much of Ukraine’s air defenses, including several S-300 systems, since the start of its special operation in the country.
The Slovakian-supplied S-300PMU system will not likely have any real impact on the ongoing Russian operation in Ukraine. NATO states has been pumping weapons, mostly taken from their old stockpiles, into Ukraine on the hopes of prolonging the war.
MORE ON THI STOPIC:
