Israel’s military will be retiring its aging Patriot air defense system within the next two months, ending its 32-year tenure in the Jewish state’s aerial defense arsenal, reports Ynet.
Developed by the United States, the Patriot dense system is designed to counter incoming aircraft, missiles, and drones. Its initial deployment by US forces during the Gulf War in 1991 showcased its effectiveness in protecting Israel from Scud missiles launched by Iraq.
However, despite its long-standing presence, the Patriot’s operational record in Israeli service has been relatively modest. The system achieved its first successful interception in 2014, neutralizing a drone originating from the Gaza Strip. Throughout the following decade, the Patriot interceptor engaged approximately ten targets, notably including a Syrian fighter jet that illegally entered Israeli airspace in 2018.
While the specifics of the Patriot’s new replacement remain undisclosed in the report, Israel’s current missile defense framework encompasses the Iron Dome for short-range threats, David’s Sling for medium-range rockets, and the Arrow systems for long-range ballistic missiles. All systems were operational on the night of April 13 when more than 300 Iranian missiles and suicide drones were intercepted by Israel and her allies.
