Patriot Missile System

The Patriot, formally designated MIM-104, is an American mobile surface-to-air missile system built principally by Raytheon, with Hughes and RCA contributing to its design, and it reached initial operational capability in 1984 after development beginning in 1969. The system pairs the AN/MPQ-53 phased array tracking radar with truck-mounted launchers and engagement control stations to intercept both aircraft and ballistic missiles, and it replaced the earlier Nike Hercules and MIM-23 Hawk systems in American service. Patriot batteries were first used in combat during the 1991 Gulf War against Iraqi Scud missiles, though their real-world effectiveness in that conflict remains debated among analysts, and the system later saw action in the 2003 Iraq War and the 2014 Gaza conflict. Since 2023 Patriot has defended Ukrainian airspace against Russian aircraft and missiles, credited with shooting down Su-34 and Su-35 fighters as well as Kinzhal ballistic missiles.