What the Patriot missile can do for Ukraine

Patriot missile systems have long been highly sought by U.S. allies in contested areas of the world as a shield against incoming missiles. In Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific, they guard against potential strikes from Iran, Somalia and North Korea.

So it was a critical turning point when news broke this week that the U.S. has agreed to send a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has wanted the missile system to augment his country's air defenses. U.S. officials have confirmed the agreement, and an official announcement is expected soon. However, experts caution that the system's effectiveness is limited.

Here's a look at what the system is and what it does: