News Summary

• The US Army's Patriot surface-to-air missile system has emerged as a cornerstone of its air defense operations.
• Deploying a Patriot battery in an emergency situation means soldiers may be sent with little warning, often with no clear sense of when they will return.
• A Patriot battery typically consists of six mobile launch vehicles that fire interceptors, along with radars, a command-and-control suite, and various support equipment to sustain operations.
• The Army has repeatedly had to surge Patriot batteries into hot spots in response to global crises in recent years.