The U.S. is significantly strengthening its air defense: Three new Patriot battalions and a special unit for the defense of Guam
The U.S. Army plans to significantly strengthen its air defense. Following the success of Patriot systems in real combat, particularly in Ukraine, the number of battalions will increase from the current 15 to 18, and a composite unit will be created to protect the strategically important Guam. The new capabilities will be complemented by the modern LTAMDS radar, the IBCS control system, and other elements. designed to improve response capabilities against missile and drone threats.
The U.S. Army's decision to increase the number of Patriot units comes at a time of growing global demand for effective air and missile defense. Experience in Ukraine, where Patriot has demonstrated its ability to destroy modern Russian aircraft and ballistic missiles at long range, has strengthened its reputation while also revealing its limitations. The planned expansion is intended not only to extend the range and coverage of U.S. air defense, but also to reduce the extreme operational burden on existing units, which are often deployed for more than a year without a break.
Experiences from Ukraine
The Patriot system has proven itself to be a highly effective means of air defense during fighting in Ukraine. With its help, the Ukrainian armed forces have been able to shoot down Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers at a distance of almost 160 kilometers and destroy missiles up to 130 kilometers from the launch site. This success has transformed Patriot from a technology that some considered obsolete into a reliable and versatile system. Its performance has not only attracted new buyers, but also strengthened the confidence of allies in its capabilities. On the other hand, Ukraine's deployment of Patriot systems faces an economic problem—the targets that the air defense missile system shoots down are often cheaper to produce than the Patriot missile itself.
Increase in the number of battalions
The U.S. Army plans to increase the number of battalions armed with the Patriot system from 15 to 18, adding three new units. This step is intended to strengthen the ability to respond to current and future threats while reducing the long-term overload of existing units. The decision to establish the 16th battalion was made in 2023, and this year the plan was expanded to include two more, bringing the total to eighteen. Current Patriot units are deployed at an extremely demanding operational pace. According to U.S. General Mingus, some of them have spent more than 500 days without a break on foreign missions. Increasing the number of battalions is therefore a crucial step towards spreading the load and ensuring longer rest and training cycles.
Guam – combined battalion
The expansion will also include the creation of a special composite unit for the defense of the strategically important island of Guam. The battalion will be equipped with the Patriot system with a new LTAMDS radar providing 360° coverage, an integrated IBCS command and control system, and IFPC capabilities for defense against missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is important to note that this "special" unit is not part of the 18 described above, but is the 19th battalion. With the addition of LTAMDS, IFPC, and IBCS, the effectiveness of the Patriot can be expected to double. If these technologies were to be used across the board in all battalions, we could talk about an increase in strength to 30 (with the current 15 battalions) or 36 air defense battalions, in the case of a future strength of 18 Patriot battalions.
The modernization plan anticipates a 30% increase in the total size of U.S. air defense units over the next eight years. In addition to new Patriot battalions, new units equipped with IFPC systems and specialized anti-drone batteries will also be created.
RIG-360: Patriot without firing direction restrictions
One of the most interesting elements of the current modernization of the Patriot system is the development of the RIG-360 (Remote Interceptor Guidance) guidance solution by Lockheed Martin. This system will enable PAC-3 missiles to be fired in a full 360-degree circle, even without direct cooperation with the Patriot battery's fire control radar. The key is a new data link between the command and control system and the launcher itself, which eliminates dependence on local radar and expands the possibilities for integration with other sensors in the network.
RIG-360 is designed to work closely with PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE missiles, which are designed to destroy a wide range of threats, from tactical ballistic missiles to aircraft and cruise missiles. In the current Patriot configuration, target data is transmitted from the integrated IBCS control system to the missile via the battery's own radar. After the introduction of RIG-360, it will be possible to guide the missile to a target detected by a completely different sensor in the IBCS network – for example, Sentinel radar, or in the future even an F-35 aircraft – without turning on the Patriot's own radar or the new LTAMDS type. The result will be a significant increase in the flexibility of the entire system, a reduction in the electromagnetic signature, and thus lower vulnerability to enemy reconnaissance and air defense suppression.
The system's development has entered the first phase of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program. Lockheed Martin is already building a dedicated facility for its production with its completion scheduled for the end of 2026. Originally funded by the manufacturer's own resources, RIG-360 is now an official U.S. Army program that has been awarded a $117 million contract. There are also plans to use the technology to guide other types of ammunition, including GMLRS missiles from the HIMARS system, which fits in with the army's efforts to link the fields of artillery and air defense.
The development of RIG-360 is part of a broader expansion of U.S. air defense. According to plans from recent months, three new battalions with Patriot systems and LTAMDS radars, five short-range IFPC battalions designed to support Multidomain Task Force (MDTF) units, and seven specialized C-UAS batteries for combating unmanned aerial vehicles will be created over the next eight years. The Pacific is also gaining strategic importance – the island of Guam is to receive its own mixed air defense battalion, already equipped with LTAMDS radar, connected to IBCS. The common denominator of these changes is the strengthening of capabilities to counter the combined threats that are increasingly emerging in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Key manufacturers and their roles
Raytheon is responsible for developing and manufacturing the new LTAMDS (Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor) radar, which replaces the existing Patriot system radar. LTAMDS enhances the ability to detect and track modern threats, including hypersonic weapons and small unmanned aerial vehicles. Lockheed Martin is involved in the production of PAC-3 MSE (Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement) missiles. The company is currently increasing its production capacity with the aim of reaching 650 missiles per year by 2027 (up from 350 in 2018). These missiles represent the most advanced variant of the Patriot system's arsenal, designed to destroy ballistic missiles, aircraft, and drones at long ranges.
In addition to the U.S. Army, the Patriot system is used by approximately 15 other countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Switzerland. Slovakia has also expressed interest in modernizing its air defense system with Patriot.
Conclusion
The United States is thus responding clearly to the experience gained in recent conflicts and to the growing range of security threats. Patriot systems have proven their key role in defending against modern air attacks – whether in Ukraine, where they have proven themselves against Russian aircraft and missiles, or in the Middle East, where they have been used to intercept Iranian missiles. Plans to boost capacity by increasing the number of units, introducing new technologies such as LTAMDS radar and the IBCS system, and accelerating the production of PAC-3 MSE missiles confirm that Patriot remains a strategic pillar of U.S. air defense for the future.
