CNN is claiming Washington may finalize plans to send the Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine. However, what CNN doesn't say is just as important:

- The US says it will send the missiles in days after the decision is made;
- It takes MONTHS to train crews to operate the Patriot missile system;
- NATO personnel will likely operate the missile system posing as Ukrainians;
- The Patriot missile system is suffering a global missile shortage;
- Lockheed will double missile production but it will take years to do so;
- Both current and future production numbers CANNOT match the number of cruise missiles alone Russia is producing per month;
- Russia is also using Iskander missiles, Geran-2 drones, as well as a number of inert decoys which will place even more pressure on Ukrainian air defenses;
- The performance of Patriot missile systems in Saudi Arabia has been poor;
- Patriot missiles will face more sophisticated and more numerous threats in Ukraine than in Saudi Arabia;

References:

FT - Military briefing: escalating air war depletes Ukraine’s weapons stockpile:
https://www.ft.com/content/fbd6dc6e-4a41-4bfa-977b-8c3ef4482dcc
CNN - Exclusive: US finalizing plans to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/13/politics/us-patriot-missile-defense-system-ukraine/index.html
Al Jazeera - Saudi Arabia may run out of interceptor missiles in ‘months’:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/9/saudi-arabia-may-run-out-of-interceptor-missiles-in-months-ft
WSJ - U.S. Sends Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia, Fulfilling Urgent Request:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sends-patriot-missiles-to-saudi-arabia-filling-an-urgent-request-11647822871
Defense News - Lockheed to double Patriot missile production as orders explode:
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/07/11/lockheed-to-double-patriot-missile-production-as-orders-explode/
NYT - Russian Cruise Missiles Were Made Just Months Ago Despite Sanctions:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/us/politics/cruise-missiles-russia-ukraine-sanctions.html
NYT - Russia Is Using Old Ukrainian Missiles Against Ukraine, General Says:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/world/europe/russia-ukraine-missiles.html
NBC News - Why U.S. Patriot missiles failed to stop drones and cruise missiles attacking Saudi oil sites:
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-sending-troops-saudi-arabia-shows-short-range-air-defenses-ncna1057461

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