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1 [1] (July 17, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/cmbnl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service ~~ Inform ing the legislative debate since 1914 0 Updated July 17, 2025 PATRIOT Air and Missile Defense System for Ukraine The PATRIOT air and missile defense (AMD) system is an integral component of U.S. air and missile defense. The system and its interceptors are both expensive and limited in supply. On December 21, 2022, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced the United States would provide a PATRIOT battery to Ukraine as part of a larger $1.85 billion security assistance package. Since 2022, the United States has provided additional PATRIOT systems and interceptors to Ukraine. What Is the PATRIOT System? PATRIOT (Figure 1) is an acronym for Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target. Figure I. PATRIOT Launcher Stations Source: Bloomberg, US Finalizing Arms Upgrade to Ukraine With Patriot Missiles, December 13, 2022. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM) notes The PATRIOT is the U.S. Army's most advanced air defense system. Capable of defeating both high performance aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles, it is the only operational [U.S.] air defense system that can shoot down attacking missiles. A PATRIOT battery (the basic firing unit) consists of about 90 soldiers, but three soldiers in the engagement control station are the only personnel required to operate the battery in combat. Raytheon Technologies manufactures PATRIOT radar and ground systems, and Lockheed Martin manufactures the interceptor missiles. DOD's December 21, 2022, Ukraine Security Assistance Announcement DOD's December 21, 2022, announcement appears to have represented a change in the Biden Administration's original position on the supply of PATRIOT units to Ukraine. Since Russia's February 2022 invasion, the Ukraine government repeatedly has asked the United States to supply PATRIOT systems. According to a DOD news article, Ukraine Getting Patriot Battery, Other Defense Weapons, the United States was to transfer a PATRIOT battery under the provisions of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), meaning PATRIOT battery systems, equipment, and associated interceptors could be taken from Army units/stocks (22 U.S.C. §2318(a)(1)). DOD further noted PATRIOT is one of the world's most advanced air defense systems, and it will give Ukraine a critical long-range capability to defend its airspace. It is capable of intercepting cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft.... Our goal is to help Ukraine strengthen a layered integrated approach to air defense. PATRIOT will complement a range of medium and short-range air defense capabilities [Stinger and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)] that we have provided and the allies have provided in prior donation packages.... PATRIOT is a sophisticated air defense system so training will be required and will take some time. How PATRIOT Functions PATRIOT battery components and how they function are summarized in a NATO fact sheet: A PATRIOT battery has six major components: a power plant [two vehicle-mounted 150 kilo watt (KW) generators], radar set, engagement control station, launcher stations, antenna mast group, and interceptor missiles (PAC-2s and PAC-3s). The Radar Set provides detection and tracking of targets as well as fire control. The phased array radar helps guide interceptors to their targets and is resistant to jamming. The Engagement Control Station calculates trajectories for interceptors and controls the launching sequence. It communicates with the launcher stations and other PATRIOT batteries. It is the only manned station in a PATRIOT fire unit. The Launcher Stations transport and protect the interceptor missiles and provide the platform for the physical launch of the missile. Each launcher station can accommodate four PAC-2 missiles or 16 PAC-3 missiles. The Antenna Mast Group is the main communications backbone for the PATRIOT unit. The Interceptor Missiles: PAC-2 is a proximity- fusing missile, which explodes near an incoming missile, PAC-3 has been specifically designed to https://crsreports.congress.go,