Patriot MIM-104

Air defense surface-to-ground missile system - United States

The MIM-104 Patriot is an air defense missile (SAM) system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. Patriot uses an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high-performance radar systems. The Patriot system is modular and highly mobile. A battery-sized element can be emplaced in less than 1 hour. Patriot systems have been sold to Taiwan, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Spain. Poland hosts a battery of Patriot launchers in Morag since 24 May 2010. The system will be integrated into the Polish air defense system until 2012. The Republic of Korea is also in the process of purchasing several second-hand Patriot systems after North Korea test-launched ballistic missiles to the Sea of Japan and proceeded with underground nuclear testing in 2006. The role of the PATRIOT is to defend against airborne threats as part of integrated air and missile defense system. Notable characteristics of the PATRIOT system include a short response time, the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously, good ground mobility, and the ability to resist electronic jamming. The first PATRIOT air defense systems were deployed by U.S. Forces in the mid-1980s. During the first Gulf War, it was used to defend against the Iraqi Scud missile threat. The PATRIOT system has evolved over the years as the threat has changed and technology has advanced. The current PATRIOT variants are equipped with advanced interceptor missiles and high-performance radar systems. PATRIOT stands for “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target”. In December 2020, the United States has confirmed the purchase of Patriot missile systems by Morocco. On May 21, 2022, the United States approved a new aid of $40 billion to Ukraine with the military assistance of $20 billion including the delivery of Patriot air defense systems and long-range artillery weapons. In May 2022, Poland announced the purchase of six more Patriot batteries. On October 14, 2022, the Polish Minister of Defense announced that Poland is ready to integrate the Patriot MIM-104 PAC-3 within its armed forces. On December 13, 2022, the American TV News Channel CNN announced that the United States plans to supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense missile systems. On December 21, several American newspapers announced that the United States will send $1.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in a massive package including Patriot air defense systems.  On January 5, 2023, Germany also announced the delivery of one Patriot battery to Ukraine. On January 12, 2023, Germany officially confirmed the delivery to Ukraine of one Patriot battery air defense missile system. On January 17, 2023, the Netherlands announced a plan to join the United States and Germany with the delivery to Ukraine of one Patriot air defense missile system from its military inventory.

Patriot MIM-104 main variants:

- MIM-104A: The standard Patriot missile (MIM-104) was the first type fielded and contained an analog fuze. This fuze was replaced by a digital version with the fielding of the MIM-104A.
- MIM-104B (PAC-1): To counter the long-range ECM threat the MIM-104B, or standoff jammer countermeasures (SOJC) missile, was fielded in the late 1980s. The guidance and navigation hardware were modified to allow the SOJC missile to fly a lofted trajectory to the jamming source and seek out the strongest emitter during the terminal phase of missile flight. The SOJC missile can fly three times longer than the standard missile without the uplink/downlink. Missile Canister. The SOJC missile retains the same performance against ABT and TBM as the standard missile
- MIM-104C (PAC-2): The Patriot Advanced Capabilities 2 (PAC-2) missile, MIM-104C, was fielded during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm to counter the advanced TBM threat. A new warhead and dual-mode fuze were added to the missile. The new warhead contains a more powerful explosive and larger fragments designed to place sufficient kinetic energy on the warhead section of threat TBMs (Tactical Ballistic Missiles) to achieve a Warhead Kill. The dual-mode fuze allows the PAC-2 missile to retain ABT performance and also optimize performance against TBM. The system software based on the mission selected for the missile sets the fuze mode.
- MIM-104D (PAC-2-GEM): The Guidance Enhancement Missile (GEM) is an improved PAC-2 missile. A Low Noise Front End (LNFE) and improved fuze have increased lethality and expanded TBM engagement volume.
- MIM-104F (PAC-3): The Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile is to be incorporated into the Patriot air defense system. It will provide defense against tactical ballistic missiles, advanced cruise missiles, and other air-breathing threats in the presence of electronic countermeasures and rough terrain. The PAC-3 missile achieves its hit-to-kill capability through the combination of an extremely accurate seeker coupled with an exceptionally rapid airframe response. The missile also utilizes a lethality enhancer that is designed to increase its performance against airbreathing threats. There are 16 PAC-3 missiles per Patriot launcher (versus four PAC-2 missiles per launcher) and eight launchers per Patriot battery.
- Patriot MSE: The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) is an evolution of the battle-proven PAC-3 Missile. The hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE provides performance enhancements that counter evolving threat advancements. The enhancements ensure the PAC-3 Missile Segment of the PATRIOT Air Defense System is capable of engaging new and evolving threats. The hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile is the world’s most advanced, and capable theater air defense missile and defender against the entire threat to the PATRIOT Air Defense System: Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs) carrying weapons of mass destruction, evolving cruise missiles, and aircraft.