France to deliver Crotale air defense systems to Ukraine – media reports
Crotale systems are capable of shooting down occupation aircraft (Photo:oryxspioenkop/Twitter)
France will deliver Crotale radar and air defense systems to Ukraine in the coming weeks, CNN quoted French President Emmanuel Macron as saying on Oct. 12.
In an interview on France 2 television, Macron said that radar and anti-air missiles would be delivered in the coming weeks to “protect (Ukraine) from drone and missile attacks.”
“This is a new phase of bombing coming from land, sea, air and drones against essential infrastructure and civilians,” Macron said.
The Crotale air defense system was developed by the French company Thomson CSF Matra, and can be used to intercept low-flying anti-ship missiles and aircraft.
There are two versions of the system – a mobile land-based version and a ship-launched one. It is in service with the militaries of France, Finland, Greece, and the Netherlands. The system’s operational range is up to 10,000 meters, while the flight ceiling does not exceed 6,000 meters.
As reported earlier, France could have promised to transfer three analogues of the U.S. HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine during a “Ramstein format” meeting of Ukraine’s allies that was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on Oct. 12.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses was the first issue on the agenda during the meeting.
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