The Patriot system destroys missiles, aircraft and drones. Image credit: RaytheonThe Patriot system destroys missiles, aircraft and drones. Image credit: Raytheon

Raytheon Company’s Patriot integrated air and missile defense system has shot down 100 ballistic missiles worldwide in combat operations since Jan. 1, 2015.

The defense system uses interceptor missiles to destroy ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. Of the 100 missiles destroyed over the two-plus years, more than 90 used Raytheon’s low-cost Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM) family of interceptors.

GEMs work by flying at fast speeds close to the threat and then detonating a blast-fragmentation warhead at the right moment.

“No single interceptor is a silver bullet,” says Ralph Acaba, vice president of integrated air and missile defense at Raytheon. “Using a mix of defensive missiles increases cost-effectiveness and gives commanders operational flexibility to choose the right interceptor at the right time.”

Raytheon says the Patriot program generates more than 15,000 jobs in 45 states in the U.S. and across 2,200 defense suppliers. Through indirect contribution of consumer goods and services, the missile battery system’s total domestic economic impact exceeds 44,000 jobs annually, the company says.

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