In January of this year, a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft was hit by an American Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. This was stated by the Assistant Chief of Staff of the 10th US Army, Rosanna Clemente.
She said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces used air ambush tactics (SAMbush). According to her, the fighters were trained for this specifically - in the middle of the night, instructors activated the Patriot battery, an order was given to go to a firing position, “work out” and then leave.
Clemente added that Ukraine probably has up to a battalion of Patriot systems in service now.
“Some of them are used to protect stationary objects, others move around and do really historic things. I have not seen anything like this in my 22 years of work in air defense,” she said.
"They have probably a #PATRIOT Bn [worth].. Some of this is being used to protect static sites.. others are being moved around and doing some really historic things..One of them is a #SAMbush.. stretching the very edges..to engage the first A-50 system back in Jan"
— AirPower 2.0 (MIL_STD) (@AirPowerNEW1) June 9, 2024
(US Army) pic.twitter.com/GhB9btUvJn
