Context: Germany is considering funding the US-made Patriot Air Defence Systems for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Patriot Missile System.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked Western allies for more air defences to protect critical infrastructure and civilians from frequent missile and drone attacks. Ukrainian officials maintain that Patriot systems are vital to defend against long-range attacks by Russia.
What is the Patriot Missile System?
- Petriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target) is a mobile surface-to-air defence system.
- Developed by: United States
- It is used to detect, track, and shoot down incoming missiles, aircraft, and drones.
- It is considered one of the most advanced air defence systems in the US arsenal, and has been in service since the 1980s.
How does the Patriot work?
- The system has different capabilities depending on the type of interceptor used.
- The earlier PAC-2 interceptor uses a blast-fragmentation warhead that detonates in the vicinity of a target.
- The PAC-3 family of missiles uses more accurate technology that hits the target directly.
- According to NATO, the system’s radar range exceeds 150 km.
Global Usage:
- The system is used in 19 countries including: The US, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
- In 2025, the US transferred about 90 Patriot interceptors from Israel to Ukraine.
Cost of the System:
- A newly produced single Patriot battery costs over $1 billion, including $400 million for the system and $690 million for the missiles in a battery.
- Patriot interceptors are estimated to cost $4 million.