Russia produces missile 'surpassing' Patriot, Germany 'gives green light' for Poland's MiG-29

(04.14) Mô hình tên lửa KH-50 (X-50), loại vũ khí Nga đang sản xuất hàng loạt để sử dụng tại Ukraine. (Nguồn: Wikipedia)

Model of the KH-50 (X-50) missile, a weapon that Russia is mass-producing for use in Ukraine. (Source: Wikipedia)

The Strana (Ukraine) newspaper on April 13 quoted Oleksiy Gromov, Deputy Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU), as saying that the above moves show that Russia is preparing a large-scale attack on targets in Ukraine in the fall. He warned that the widespread use of Kh-50 missiles will allow the Russian military to destroy the Patriot air defense missile systems that Ukraine is expected to receive from the US in the coming weeks.

The Kh-50 is a 6-meter long, 1,600-kg tactical cruise missile with a range of 1,500 km and a maximum speed of 950 km/h, capable of destroying underground bunkers, airfields and protected warehouses. This weapon can be launched from TU-95MS and TU-160 strategic bombers, with the guidance support of the GLONASS satellite navigation system, along with special traps and electronic warfare systems.

On the same day, German media simultaneously reported that Berlin had approved Poland's request to allow Poland to transfer MiG-29 aircraft that it received from the former German Democratic Republic's warehouses to Ukraine. The source said that the transfer included five Soviet MiG-29s. Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also said that Berlin decided on the matter on April 13.

Shortly afterwards, defense expert Marcus Faber of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), part of Germany's ruling coalition, welcomed the German government 's decision. He said that Berlin had made the decision on the same day Warsaw made the request and that the Kiev government would be "very pleased with this speed".

According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, this move shows that Berlin can make well-considered and quick decisions. However, the next issue is to consider increasing support to strengthen the Ukrainian air force, such as training pilots or transferring Western-made aircraft to the Kiev government.