Ukrainian advisors were shocked when eight Patriot missiles, totaling $25 million, were fired at a single target in the Persian Gulf
In four years of war, Ukraine has become one of the world's leaders in air defense, but its experience is still underestimated even by allies. And in vain: mistakes Kyiv has already learned to avoid are now costing the US and Persian Gulf countries billions of dollars. The Times introduces the details.
PiranhaTech anti-drone electronic warfare systems during a presentation in Kyiv region. October 21, 2025. Photo: Danylo Antoniuk / Anadolu via Getty Images)
In four years of full-scale war, Ukraine has created one of the most effective air defense systems in the world. According to Ukrainian military personnel, it has destroyed about 140,000 aerial targets — from missiles and bombs to aircraft and drones. More than 44,000 of these are "Shahed" type drones, which are now attacking US bases in the Middle East.
However, despite this experience, the US political leadership is not in a hurry to use it. Donald Trump publicly rejected Kyiv's offer of help, stating that Zelensky is "the last person" from whom the US needs help.
Experts consider such an approach shortsighted. According to analysts, Ukraine has become one of the world leaders in organizing air defense command and coordination systems — especially in conditions of massive attacks and mixed threats.
The Ukrainian system is one of the most complex in the world: it has managed to integrate Soviet heritage and modern NATO technologies, creating a multi-layered approach that includes modern electronic warfare means, fighter jets, helicopters, Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, interceptor drones, and conventional machine guns.
It was the Ukrainian front that became a testing ground for American anti-drone systems, such as Merops. And although the US is capable of scaling production independently, it was the Ukrainian experience that made these systems effective.
This is confirmed by the fact that, contrary to Trump's rhetoric, the US Central Command still requested Ukrainian specialists. Currently, about 200 Ukrainian officer-advisors are deployed in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia to help allies build an effective defense.
Workers inspect damage to the Address Creek Harbour hotel in Dubai after a night drone attack. March 12, 2026. Photo: AP Photo / Fatima Shbair
Persian Gulf countries are spending billions
Ukrainian officers working in the Persian Gulf do not hide their surprise at how Western weapons are used there. While Ukrainian crews use one or two missiles to intercept complex ballistic targets, in the Gulf there have been cases where up to eight Patriot missiles were fired at a single target. Each such missile costs over $3 million, and wasting them on cheap drones is not just wasteful, but a strategic mistake in a war of attrition.
An even more telling example is the use of an SM-6 missile, costing about $6 million, to destroy a drone worth $70,000. As a result, cheap drones have already caused billions of dollars in damage to US allies.
Moreover, insufficient mobility has cost the US enormous losses: an early warning radar costing a billion dollars and at least one radar for the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) anti-missile system, costing about $300 million, were destroyed by Iranian drones simply because they stood in the same place for two months and were visible in satellite images.
Ukrainians, however, during the war, have become masters of camouflage and rapid maneuver, especially when it comes to their air defense systems. They have learned to deploy and redeploy Patriot batteries much faster than prescribed by American instructions.
Ukrainian officers also draw attention to coordination problems. On March 1, Kuwait's air defense mistakenly shot down three American F-15E fighter jets that were pursuing drones.
Ukrainian specialists call this clear negligence. Analysis shows that the difference in approaches lies in the human factor: in Gulf countries, crews often leave batteries and go to shelters, leaving Patriot in automatic mode. Ukrainians, however, always remain at the controls, working in manual mode, which allows them to distinguish a friendly aircraft from an enemy UAV.
Ukrainian experience has shown that Patriot can be not only a defensive but also an offensive weapon. One illustrative episode is the destruction of Russian aircraft over the Bryansk region in 2023. A Ukrainian Patriot crew deceived the enemy, quickly deployed the system near the border, struck, and immediately changed position.
American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. Photo: Mindaugas Kulbis / AP
In addition, Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners have developed unique tactics against the latest ballistic missiles that use complex trajectories to deceive systems. In such cases, they turn off automation and rely solely on nerves of steel, launching an interceptor missile in the last seconds before impact. This experience of teamwork and lack of hesitation allows them to shoot down 12 cruise missiles in two minutes.
The conclusion of Ukrainian military personnel is unequivocal: no country in the world should be overconfident in air defense matters. The war in Ukraine is a conflict of a completely different type, with no analogues in world history. Ignoring the lessons of this war can cost allies not only billions of dollars but also defeat in future confrontations.
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