Patriot missile system: The $1 billion battery that will save Ukraine from Russian
The United States has announced that it will send $1.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine, days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his American counterpart Joe Biden and addressed Congress. The military package will include a unique system designed to intercept incoming missiles - the Patriot missile battery.
The development comes in the wake of a growing call from Ukraine for the West to provide advanced weapons to counter the Russian assault in the 10-month-old conflict. The Patriot would be the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine to help repel Russian aerial attacks.
WHAT IS THE PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEM?
The Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target (PATRIOT) is a surface-to-air missile defense system which is considered one of the most advanced interceptors and air defense systems in the military theatre. Developed by Raytheon Technologies Corp, it is a system of truck-mounted launching system with eight launchers that can hold up to four missile interceptors each, a ground radar, a control station, and a generator.
The Patriot battery was first deployed in the field in the 1991 Gulf War, with batteries protecting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel, and later used during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. The U.S. batteries are regularly deployed around the world. The system needs as many as 90 troops to operate and maintain it.
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