Timely Defenders: Keeping Patriots in Shape

June 17/22: Palau Charlie Battery, 1-1 ADA (Air Defense Artillery), 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade based in Japan successfully destroyed a cruise missile target using two PAC-3 air defense missile interceptors on June 15 in Palau. This is the first time the Patriot missile has been fired from Palau and the second time the US conduct such live-firing of the Patriot missile west of the International Date Line. According to the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, targeting data was provided from an F-35.

June 7/22: Test-Fire The United States intends to test-fire the Patriot air defense missile system in Palau on June 15, the island’s ambassador to Washington D.C. has disclosed. The 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Okinawa will be deployed to Palau for this event. The firing is part of Exercise Valiant Shield which will involve Palau and Micronesia for the first time this year. The Patriot unit is to be deployed at Airai, according to Island Times.

June 1/22: South Korea South Korea’s Defense Project Promotion Committee has approved a $605 million project to buy PAC-3 missile interceptors and upgrade its existing PAC-2 launchers so that it can launch the PAC-3 missiles. Seoul will also spend $783 million to develop a mine-sweeping helicopter.

May 30/22: Post-Production Lockheed Martin won a $10.5 million deal for logistics support labor for and a $10.5 million deal for product assurance basic labor for the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 Missile Support Center post-production effort. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is May 25, 2023.

May 26/22: Poland Polish Defense Minister Mariusz B?aszczak has announced his country is launching the second phase of its mid-range air defense program by requesting the US government to sell it six Patriot batteries with related gear. These would be in addition to the $4.7 billion order for the first two Patriot Configuration 3+ batteries that are scheduled for delivery this year.

April 7/22: Taiwan The US State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of equipment, training and other items to support the Patriot Air Defense System in a deal valued at up to $95 million, the Pentagon said. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained of increased military pressure by Beijing to try and force the democratically ruled island to accept its sovereignty. The package would include training, planning, fielding, deployment, operation, maintenance and sustainment of the Patriot Air Defense System and associated equipment, the Pentagon said, in a notification to Congress.

March 10/22: Poland The US sent two PATRIOT surface-to-air missile batteries to Poland in preparation to enforce a no-fly zone over that country and parts of its border with Ukraine. “At the direction of the Secretary of Defense and at the invitation of our Polish allies, General Wolters, Commander of US European Command, has directed US Army Europe and Africa to reposition two Patriot Batteries to Poland,” United States European Command (EUCOM) spokesman Capt. Adam Miller said in a statement.

February 16/22: Saudi Arabia And Qatar Lockheed Martin won a $16 million deal for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 flight test support in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with an estimated completion date of February 13, 2025. Fiscal 2022 Foreign Military Sales (Saudi Arabia and Qatar) funds in the amount of $16,099,270 were obligated at the time of the award.

December 9/21: Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is reportedly running low on its stock pile of Patriot missile interceptors and has reached out to the United States and allies in Europe and Gulf for resupplies. Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been launching ballistic missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has been using the interceptors to defeat those attacks over the past several months.

December 1/21: Technical Assistance The US Army announced a contract valued $94 million to Lockheed Martin for technical assistance support for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile segment. Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defense system to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft. Work will be performed in Sweden, Kuwait, Poland, South Korea, Romania, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of November 30, 2024.

November 22/21: Sweden Sweden officially inducted the PAC-3 air defense missile system into service on November 18. The PAC-3 is designated as air defense system 103 in Swedish service. The ceremony took place at the Air Defense Regiment in Halmstad.