DefPulse examined how the main Western air defense systems in Ukraine are structured, what missiles they use, what range they have, and what role they play in the overall system protecting Ukraine’s sky.
Air Defense — A Multi-Layered Complex
Air defense is built on the principle of multi-layering.
No single air defense system can work equally effectively against all aerial threats. That is why Ukraine’s air defense is being built on a multi-layered principle:
- Long-range and anti-ballistic layer — primarily Patriot and the forthcoming SAMP/T NG. Their task is to cover large cities, critical infrastructure, and important military facilities, including against ballistic missiles.
- Medium layer — IRIS-T SLM and NASAMS. They are designed primarily to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.
- Close-in zone — mobile short-range systems, anti-aircraft artillery, and man-portable air defense systems.
At the same time, the boundaries between categories are not always clearly defined. For example, SAMP/T NG is being developed as a system with both air defense and missile defense capabilities, while NASAMS, thanks to its modular architecture, can use various types of missiles.
Patriot: Ukraine’s Primary Means Against Ballistic Threats
The American MIM-104 Patriot is the most important Western system in Ukraine’s missile defense. Modern modifications of the system are capable of operating against aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. In Ukraine, Patriot is also used against the most complex Russian missile targets.
A Patriot battery consists of a radar station, a control station, and launchers with interceptor missiles. The radar simultaneously performs detection, tracking, and target guidance functions. In various configurations, Patriot uses radars AN/MPQ-53, AN/MPQ-65, and their upgraded versions.
PAC-2 and PAC-3: Two Different Interception Concepts
Various types of missiles can be used with Patriot:
- PAC-2 GEM-T — a development of the PAC-2 missile family. It contains a fragmentation-high-explosive warhead and is designed to destroy aerial targets, including tactical ballistic missiles. In 2026, Raytheon received a $3.7 billion contract to supply GEM-T to Ukraine; part of the production is to take place at a new facility in Germany.
- PAC-3 operates on a different principle. The missile destroys its target using the hit-to-kill method: direct physical collision at high speed.
- PAC-3 MSE received a more powerful dual-pulse engine, increased maneuverability, and extended range. Lockheed Martin positions PAC-3 MSE as an interceptor for tactical ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as aircraft.
According to the Ministry of Defense, PAC-3 is approximately 5 m long, about 25 cm in diameter, weighs approximately 218 kg, and has an active radar seeker. In the PAC-3 CRI variant, the declared interception range is up to 45 km and altitude up to 12 km; PAC-3 MSE has higher performance figures.
A Patriot launcher can carry up to 16 PAC-3 or four PAC-2 missiles, as the missiles differ in size.
SAMP/T: European Alternative to Patriot
The Franco-Italian SAMP/T was developed as a mobile medium- and long-range air defense and missile defense system. Its primary munition is the Aster 30 missile.
In 2026, Ukraine is using the previous-generation SAMP/T and is also preparing to receive the new SAMP/T NG. In particular, in July Ukraine officially confirmed its intention to order four SAMP/T NG systems. France also agreed to temporarily transfer two previous-generation SAMP/T systems to Ukraine for the period while the new systems are awaited. The first SAMP/T NG modules are expected to begin arriving in 2027.
What’s New in SAMP/T NG
SAMP/T NG received a new multi-function radar with AESA technology and 360-degree coverage.
According to Eurosam, the system is capable of detecting aerial targets at ranges exceeding 350 km and intercepting aerodynamic targets at ranges exceeding 150 km. According to the manufacturer’s claims, the system is capable of detecting and intercepting maneuvering ballistic targets with a flight range exceeding 600 km.
The launcher can carry eight Aster missiles, and a battery can have up to six such launchers, meaning up to 48 missiles ready to fire.
Another distinction is vertical launch. Unlike older systems with sectoral launcher guidance, SAMP/T NG can launch a missile vertically, after which it steers toward the target.
The system is designed to operate with Aster 30 B1 and Aster 30 B1NT missiles, and in the future is expected to integrate other interceptors as well. Notably, France and Italy in 2026 authorized licensed production of Aster 30 in Ukraine.
IRIS-T SLM: Precise Medium-Tier Defense
IRIS-T SLM has an interception range of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 20 km. The system is designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.
A distinctive feature of the missile is its imaging infrared seeker, which forms an image of the target. This distinguishes IRIS-T from missiles with active radar guidance.
The system also uses in-flight data link. This allows the missile’s trajectory to be corrected after launch, and in the final interception phase it switches to its own seeker.
Another feature is thrust vector control. Thanks to it, the missile can maneuver intensively immediately after launch.
In 2025, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported the delivery of the ninth IRIS-T system. Ukraine uses both the SLM and the short-range SLS version. The SLS has a declared range of up to 12 km and an altitude of up to 8 km.
NASAMS: A Modular Air Defense System with Aviation Missiles
NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a Norwegian-American medium-range surface-to-air missile system jointly developed and produced by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and American Raytheon, part of RTX. Kongsberg is responsible, among other things, for the command post and launchers, while Raytheon supplies the radars, missiles, and a number of system components.
Ukraine received its first two NASAMS systems in November 2022, purchased by the United States. Their arrival on November 7 was announced by then-Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
NASAMS is a distributed networked system whose components can be spread over significant distances. The typical configuration includes a Fire Distribution Center command post, an AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, an electro-optical sensor, and launchers.
A single NASAMS launcher can carry up to six missiles. Moreover, the system can use various types of munitions — AIM-120 AMRAAM, AMRAAM-ER, and AIM-9X Sidewinder.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM is an air-to-air missile with an active radar seeker. Its ground-based employment through NASAMS allows essentially the same missile platform to be used for both fighters and air defense.
Even greater range is provided by the AMRAAM-ER. It has approximately 50% greater range and 70% greater interception altitude compared to the AMRAAM C7.
NASAMS also has an open architecture. The command post can integrate various sensors and exchange data with other air defense systems. Compatibility of NASAMS with higher-tier systems, including Patriot, is provided for.
What Distinguishes the Systems
| System | Primary Targets | Declared Range | Guidance Type / Feature | Role in Air Defense |
| Patriot PAC-3 MSE | Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft | Higher than PAC-3 CRI; exact MSE parameters not disclosed | Hit-to-kill, active radar seeker | Missile defense / long-range tier |
| SAMP/T NG | Ballistic and aerodynamic targets | >150 km against aerodynamic targets | Aster 30, AESA, 360° | Air defense / missile defense |
| IRIS-T SLM | Aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs | Up to 40 km | Infrared seeker | Medium tier |
| NASAMS | Aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs | Depends on missile | AMRAAM/AMRAAM-ER/AIM-9X | Medium tier |
For air defense systems, what matters is the target’s flight altitude, speed, maneuverability, radar or infrared signature, radar capabilities, reaction time, and missile type. For example, a system with a shorter declared range may be more effective against a specific target if it is better suited to that target’s characteristics.
How Do These Systems Work Together?
Schematically, the process looks like this:
- Radars and other sensors detect an aerial target and transmit information to command posts.
- The control system determines the threat type, its trajectory, and priority.
- An appropriate means of engagement is assigned to the target.
In September 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has already learned to effectively intercept cruise missiles and drones, while Patriot remains the primary effective means against ballistic missiles.
What Air Defense Systems Ukraine Has: A Comparison
| System | Country | Type | Role |
| Patriot | USA | Long-range / Missile defense | Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft |
| SAMP/T | France / Italy | Long-range / Missile defense | Ballistic and aerodynamic targets |
| SAMP/T NG | France / Italy | Long-range / Missile defense | Next-generation air defense / missile defense |
| IRIS-T SLM | Germany | Medium-range | Cruise missiles, UAVs, aircraft |
| IRIS-T SLS | Germany | Short-range | UAVs, aircraft, helicopters |
| NASAMS | Norway / USA | Medium-range | Cruise missiles, UAVs, aircraft |
| HAWK | USA | Medium-range | Aircraft, cruise missiles, and other aerodynamic targets |
| Crotale | France | Short-range | Low-altitude aerial targets |
| Buk-M1 / FrankenSAM | Ukraine / partners | Medium-range | Air defense with integrated Western missiles |
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense classifies Patriot, SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T, HAWK, and Crotale as systems that partners are transferring to Ukraine within the framework of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Coalition. FrankenSAM is being developed separately, enabling the use of Western missiles on upgraded Soviet-era platforms.
