home Security Air & Missile Defense Supply of Patriot Missiles Required Urgently

Supply of Patriot Missiles Required Urgently

Dec 10, 2021

photo illustration PAC-3 by US Army — A Sabre short-range ballistic missile launches in June 2017 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, for a test of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement, an advanced missile defense system. Hypersonic missiles might be able to penetrate PAC-3 and similar systems. (U.S. Army photo by U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command)

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Saudi Arabia has appealed to the United States for urgent help with replenishing Riyadh’s missile defense weaponry. The kingdom needs the arsenal in order to cope with ballistic missile and drone strikes launched each week by the Yemen-based Houthi rebels. At least 11 ballistic missile attacks and 29 drone attacks were carried out against the kingdom last month alone, Saudi officials said.

The Saudi military has successfully fended off most of the barrages with its Patriot surface-to-air missile system, but its arsenal of interceptors — missiles used to shoot down airborne weapons — has fallen dangerously low, US and Saudi officials said, according to nypost.com.

The officials told wsj.com that Saudi Arabia has asked the US to sell it hundreds of interceptors. The interceptors are manufactured by Raytheon Technologies.

The sale of interceptors is currently under consideration by the State Department and the US appears likely to approve the request.