The United States has demonstrated the capability of an
enhanced Patriot missile defense system against unmanned aerial vehicles.
Raytheon, which participated in the test, said the Patriot GEM-T
missiles destroyed two target drones last week at White Sands Missile Range,
N.M. The company said the GEM-T interfaced with ground equipment and radar
for a near vertical interception of the incoming targets, Middle East Newsline reported.
GEM-T has been produced by Raytheon, under contract to the U.S. Army to
upgrade 376 PAC-2 missiles to the GEM-T configuration. So far, 230 of the
upgraded missiles have been delivered.
Raytheon has termed the GEM-T an upgrade for the PAC-2 missile that
could intercept, aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
The GEM-T has been offered to such Middle East states as Greece, Israel,
Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. Army has also been modifying and improving the PAC-3 system.
The Defense Department has awarded Raytheon a $151.3 million contract for
engineering services for the Patriot systems in a project expected to be
completed by 2009.
