(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — After utilizing it for 40 years to safeguard its airspace, Israel is set to retire the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system, known locally as Yahlom, and replace it with domestically developed air defense systems.
Taking the place of the Patriot system will be locally developed air defense systems such as the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling, crafted by Israel’s defense industry.
During a recent barrage of 300 ballistic missiles and suicide drones from Iran, the majority of the air defense systems deployed to protect Israel were domestically produced.
Israel operates a multi-layered air defense setup, with the Iron Dome addressing short-range threats, while medium-range threats and ballistic missiles are countered by the David’s Sling and Arrow systems, all jointly developed by Israel and the United States.
Questions remain about the future of Israel’s decommissioned Patriot systems.
Any sale or transfer of these systems requires U.S. approval.
Many anticipate that Israel’s Patriot systems might be resold to the United States, which could potentially donate them to Ukraine to help counter Russian missile and aircraft threats.
Ukraine desperately needs the Patriot systems to protect its cities and critical military assets from Russian attacks.
Although there is a possibility that Israel’s Patriot systems could be transferred to Ukraine, Tel Aviv is expected to proceed cautiously to avoid provoking Russia.
Israel requires Russia’s cooperation, particularly in its efforts to counter Iran’s growing influence in neighboring countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
Previously, Israel has declined Ukraine’s requests for the short-range Iron Dome system due to concerns that it could fall into Iranian hands through Russia.
Consequently, Kiev’s requests for the Iron Dome have gone unanswered.
Israel first deployed the Patriot system in 1991 during the Gulf War to counter threats from Saddam Hussein’s Scud missiles.
The system was upgraded in 2012 and successfully intercepted a drone launched by militants in the Gaza Strip for the first time in 2014.
Since then, Israel’s Patriot systems have intercepted 19 targets including rockets, drones, and a Russian-made Su-24 fighter jet of the Syrian Air Force in 2018.
The MIM-104 Patriot system comprises six components: the missile itself, launcher system, radar, control station, power unit, and high-frequency antenna.
The system’s PAC-2 missiles can destroy air targets including ballistic missiles up to 160 km away, while the PAC-3 missiles can target up to 40 km away.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates the cost of each Patriot battery at $1.1 billion, with each missile valued at $4.1 million. — DSA