U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense systems have shown limited effectiveness in the Ukrainian conflict, according to Military Watch Magazine, citing Western and Ukrainian sources.

The publication notes that the systems faced their most serious challenges when attempting to intercept Russian missiles capable of active maneuvering and trajectory changes, rather than following predictable ballistic paths. Against such targets, Patriot’s interception performance reportedly deteriorated sharply. Former deputy chief of the Ukrainian General Staff Igor Romanov assessed that the system’s success rate dropped from around 42 percent to just 6 percent.

Military Watch Magazine argues that these shortcomings have created an opportunity for the Russian Armed Forces to deploy ballistic missile systems, including the Iskander-M, specifically to strike Patriot launchers and associated infrastructure.

Another key limitation highlighted by the magazine is the relatively modest speed of Patriot interceptor missiles, estimated at about 3.5 Mach. This constraint significantly narrows their capability against high-velocity threats. In contrast, Russian S-400 systems reportedly employ interceptor missiles exceeding 14 Mach, allowing them to engage missiles launched by Patriot systems.

Against this backdrop, the publication reports that the United States is considering plans to develop a new long-range modification of the MIM-104 Patriot system. The proposed upgrade is expected to address the major deficiencies identified in the versions supplied to Ukraine.