Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group has manufactured and assembled a 3 ton armor shell to cover key elements of the Patriot system as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative.
According to the group’s press release, Metinvest continues to strengthen the protection of Ukraine’s air defense forces as part of the Steel Front initiative, this time by creating a shelter for the Patriot air defense system.
It is specified that the protection consists of a steel frame and armored plates. The design covers several important components of the system: the SAM control station, radar comparator (Doghouse), and generator.
“In such war conditions, every minute that air defense works saves lives. Our protective shells are designed for this very purpose – to ensure that the equipment remains in service even under fire,” commented Oleksandr Myronenko, Group Chief Operating Officer.
In addition, it is reported that since the beginning of 2025, Metinvest has begun systematic work on protection for air defense systems. The first shells were installed at air defense facilities back in the spring, and since then, the designs have been constantly improved. Each new project is adapted to a specific location and type of equipment.
Dozens of specialists are involved in the production of the armor: milling, turning, drilling, planing, electric and gas welders, metalworkers, blacksmiths, and painters. For security reasons, Metivest has moved all production for the army off-site: these are secret sites whose location is not disclosed.
“Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front is the largest private initiative to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As part of the project, SCM Group companies manufacture and supply the army with modern shelters, equipment protection, electronic warfare equipment, vehicles, drones, fortifications and other equipment that is critical at the front. The initiative focuses on the in-house production of solutions adapted to war conditions.
“Staliy Front already manufactures protective screens for vehicles such as Abrams, Bradley, Roshel, Kozak, and MT-LB, which perform combat missions on a daily basis.
The Patriot air defense system is an American medium- and long-range air defense system developed by Raytheon. Designed to intercept aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, it has a phased array radar and high-precision interceptor missiles.
Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group, as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative, has mastered the production of armor protection for the MIM-104 Patriot control module, which protects the Ukrainian sky from enemy attacks.
According to the group’s press release on Friday, Metinvest engineers have already mounted the first armor on the air defense system’s operational control module.
At the same time, it is noted that Metinvest continues to actively expand its line of protective products for the Ukrainian army, which increases the level of security and protects the lives of defenders and military equipment. The company has mastered the production of steel shields for the main domestic T-64 and T-72 tanks, American M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and is preparing to integrate them into various Leopard 2 modifications. The soldiers have already received more than 300 screens.
Oleksandr Myronenko, Head of Steel Production for the Ukrainian Army at Metinvest and Group Chief Operating Officer, noted that the defenders of the sky also need reliable protection.
“Since this is one of the main areas of the Steel Front initiative, in which we have extensive experience, it is not surprising that we have been entrusted with such a responsible mission. In a month and a half, we created a project from scratch and manufactured a shield for the crew of the Patriot air defense system from Metinvest’s Ukrainian armor steel according to the drawings, which guarantees protection against fragmentation damage to both the defenders and the air defense control system. Our experienced engineers also supervised the installation of the armor,” explained Myronenko.
The company clarified that Metinvest engineers have set up the production of a unique armor patch for the Patriot air defense system’s brain center, which controls the air defense system. The crew protection against shrapnel damage is made of 30KhN2MA steel, which has improved wear resistance, strength, toughness and resistance to mechanical stress.
The armor consists of nearly 200 elements – plates of armored steel up to 8 mm thick that protect the air defense control center. The total weight of the armor exceeds 2.6 tons, but this does not affect the functionality or mobility of the complex. A team of project engineers worked on the creation of the Patriot air defense system’s armor, supervising the work of turners, fitters, mechanical assemblers, and electric and gas welders.
The Patriot system is an anti-aircraft missile system. The core of the system is the AN/MPQ-53 Patriot radar. This is a multi-purpose radar with a passive phased array antenna (PFAR) operating in G- or H-bands. Patriot uses advanced air-to-air interceptor missiles and highly effective radar systems. The maximum range of airborne targets is 170 km.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that Germany will soon provide Ukraine with the third Patriot system, IRIS-T and Gepard missiles, rockets and ammunition.
“Ukraine’s most important need today is ammunition and weapons, especially air defense. Therefore, in the coming weeks and months, we will supply Ukraine with the third Patriot system, IRIS-T, Cheetahs, missiles and ammunition,” he said at a conference on Ukraine’s recovery on Tuesday.
According to him, since February 24, 2022, Germany has provided Ukraine with 30 billion euros in military aid, as well as billions in humanitarian aid.
“I would like to address all those present and ask you to support our initiative to increase the capacity of the Ukrainian air defense with everything you can,” Scholz urged.
AMMUNITION, GERMANY, Iris-T, missiles, Patriot, SCHOLZ, гепард
The Netherlands, together with Denmark, will produce CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine, and together with Germany – Patriot.
This was announced on Friday by the Dutch government.
“The Netherlands, together with Denmark, is participating in a €400 million Swedish fund to create CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine. Most of them will be produced in the Netherlands. In addition, Germany is launching a European assembly line for Patriot missiles, partly due to demand from the Netherlands,” the press release said.
In addition, the Dutch Ministry of Defense is also investing 54 million euros in the Dutch industry to develop drones for its own armed forces. This is included in the action plan to increase the production and supply of military equipment, the Dutch government said.
