The Patriot Integrated Air and Missile Defense System has reportedly shot down more than 100 tactical ballistic missiles in combat operations throughout the world, according to a recent release by Patriot manufacturer, Raytheon Company.
The Patriot system utilizes multiple interceptor missiles and high-performance radar to eliminate various threats including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones. More than 90 of the system’s intercepts involved low-cost, Raytheon-made guidance enhanced missile (GEM) interceptors, which work by flying at extremely fast speeds to catch up with various threats and then detonates a blast fragmentation warhead at the precise time.
“No single interceptor is a silver bullet,” Ralph Acaba, Raytheon’s vp for Integrated Air and Missile Defense, said. “Using a mix of defensive missiles increases cost-effectiveness and gives commanders operational flexibility to choose the right interceptor at the right time.”
The project directly employs more than 15,000 people at various Raytheon sites and other defense contractors in 45 U.S. states. When considering Patriot’s total domestic economic impact, which includes indirect contributions of goods and services, the system employs more than 44,000 annually.
Patriot systems have been sold to militaries in Taiwan, Spain, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Netherlands, Japan and Kuwait.