Patriot

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Patriot

missile

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Last updated

June 11, 2026

Quick Summary

The Patriot missile is a radar-guided surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles. Developed to protect ground positions from air attacks, early versions like the Nike SAMs provided strategic defense against bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).1

Following arms limitation agreements, research shifted to developing shorter-range, more portable SAMs for ground troops. Handheld systems, known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), utilize infrared homing and have been used effectively in various conflicts.1

The Patriot system, along with Aegis, was developed as a theater missile defense platform to counter short-range ballistic missiles. While its initial deployment in the Persian Gulf War faced scrutiny, subsequent improvements to its fire control systems and interceptor missiles have enhanced its effectiveness. Ballistic missile defense radars, like those used in systems such as Patriot, are complex, large-scale systems designed to detect and track targets at long ranges, distinguishing them from decoys and other confusion objects.12

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radar
Antennas
Army’s Patriot battlefield air-defense system and the U.S. Navy’s Aegis system for ship air defense also depend on the electronically steered phased-array antenna.
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Army’s Patriot battlefield air-defense system and the U.S. Navy’s Aegis system for ship air defense also depend on the electronically steered phased-array antenna.
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RTX Corporation
Post–Cold War expansion and restructuring
…the Persian Gulf War, Raytheon’s Patriot missile received great international exposure, resulting in a substantial increase in sales for the company outside the United States. In an effort to establish leadership in the defense business, in 1996 Raytheon purchased in quick succession Chrysler Corporation’s defense electronics and aircraft-modification businesses, and…
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…the Persian Gulf War, Raytheon’s Patriot missile received great international exposure, resulting in a substantial increase in sales for the company outside the United States. In an effort to establish leadership in the defense business, in 1996 Raytheon purchased in quick succession Chrysler Corporation’s defense electronics and aircraft-modification businesses, and…
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rocket and missile system
Surface-to-air
The longer-ranged Patriot missile system began entering service in 1985 as a partial replacement for the Hawk. Like the Hawk, the Patriot was semimobile; that is, the system components were not mounted permanently on vehicles and so had to be removed from their transport for firing. For…
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The longer-ranged Patriot missile system began entering service in 1985 as a partial replacement for the Hawk. Like the Hawk, the Patriot was semimobile; that is, the system components were not mounted permanently on vehicles and so had to be removed from their transport for firing. For…
Read More

tactical weapons system
Surface-to-air systems
Patriot system, as many as eight mobile missile-launching stations, each holding four missiles, may be controlled from one mobile control centre, which integrates radar sighting and tracking, identification, missile guidance, and other information.
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Patriot system, as many as eight mobile missile-launching stations, each holding four missiles, may be controlled from one mobile control centre, which integrates radar sighting and tracking, identification, missile guidance, and other information.
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theatre missile defense
…21st century, the United States’s Patriot missile, designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles before they strike their intended targets, was the best-known example of such a system. During the Persian Gulf War (1990–91), the Patriot was employed for TMD in Israel and Saudi Arabia to counter the threat of Iraqi…
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…21st century, the United States’s Patriot missile, designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles before they strike their intended targets, was the best-known example of such a system. During the Persian Gulf War (1990–91), the Patriot was employed for TMD in Israel and Saudi Arabia to counter the threat of Iraqi…
Read More