​In the ever-evolving landscape of global security, the Patriot system is a cornerstone of air and missile defense that integrates the United States and its allies into a unified shield against aerial threats.

The MIM-104 Patriot serves as the backbone of the US Army's missile defense. It is capable of neutralizing a spectrum of aerial threats, including hostile aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles and loitering munitions.

The Patriot (an acronym for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target) entered service in the early 1980s.

Since then, it has undergone next-gen updates and provides 24-hour air defense capability for the United States and its partner nations in the Middle East and beyond.

The system is used by the US Army and 19 nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, as well as the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and others.

Its effectiveness has been proven over the years and underscored in conflicts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the deployment of Patriot batteries significantly bolstered Ukraine's defense against aerial assaults.

The Patriot provided a level of protection that was notably superior to Soviet-era systems like the BUK and S-300, which Ukraine previously relied upon.

Comprehensive defense architecture

A standard Patriot battery is a complex assembly of components designed for optimal performance and rapid deployment.

The Patriot batteries are fully mobile, allowing for strategic deployment in various terrains. They are capable of operating nearly autonomously, requiring human interaction only for the final launch system.

The system consists of six major components: a missile, launcher, radar set, engagement control station, power generator unit and high-frequency antenna mast.

The AN/MPQ-65 radar is a phased-array radar system that can track, identify and engage high volumes of targets with a range exceeding 100km.

When integrated with systems like the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), this tracking range can extend even further, offering a layered and robust defense mechanism.

The US-made THAAD system is designed to defeat short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal flight phase.

The Patriot comes with up to eight M901 launching stations, each capable of housing multiple missiles.

The standard Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) missile has a maximum speed of over 5,600kmh (3,500 mph) and a range exceeding 97 km (60 miles).

The latest version, the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE), significantly increased Patriot capabilities with upgraded missiles and use of the Link 16 communications system.