Documents
United States Raytheon (RTX)
Patriot GEM-T
Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical, an upgraded PAC-2-derivative interceptor with improved guidance electronics and low-altitude, low-radar-cross-section target performance. It bridges legacy PAC-2 rounds and the hit-to-kill PAC-3.
In service since 2002 · 10 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
150
km range
24,000
m altitude
8
targets
170
km radar
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Established · 10 operators
In service since 2002. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 5 Mach |
|---|---|
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 150 km |
| Engagement altitude Maximum target altitude the system can reach. | 24,000 m |
| Simultaneous targets Number of targets the system can engage at once. Higher resists saturation attacks. | 8 |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | MIM-104E interceptor missile |
|---|---|
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 91 kg |
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Blast-fragmentation |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Track-via-missile, Semi-active radar homing |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | AN/MPQ-53/65 phased array radar |
|---|---|
| Radar range Published detection range against a typical fighter-sized target. Higher sees first. | 170 km |
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | Patriot ICC command network |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 10 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Raytheon (RTX) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Patriot GEM-T vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the engagement range of the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T has a maximum engagement range of 150 km.
What is the main armament of the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T's primary weapon is the MIM-104E interceptor missile.
What is the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T used for? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T is operated by 10 countries.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T cost? +
Raytheon (RTX) Patriot GEM-T: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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Related coverage
Patriot GEM-T in the news
News conflict · Aug 2, 2026
Kyiv Hit Again as Ukraine Runs Out of Patriot Interceptors
Russia fired 35 missiles and 185 drones at Kyiv overnight, only one of 27 ballistic missiles was intercepted, and Ukraine says it is out of Patriot rounds.
News digest · Aug 1, 2026
Iran's War Resets Again, Russia Probes NATO's Seams
A Jordan strike, a two-hour US response, a Kh-101 that landed in Poland, and three new counter-drone systems defined this week in defense.
News conflict · Jul 27, 2026
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel All Down Drones in One Morning
Saudi Arabia intercepted drones from Iraq, and Jordan and Israel separately downed UAVs near their border, in one morning of regional drone spillover.
News conflict · Jul 25, 2026
Greek Patriot Battery Intercepts Houthi Missiles at Saudi Refinery
A Greek-operated Patriot battery stationed in Saudi Arabia since 2021 shot down two Houthi ballistic missiles aimed at Yanbu's refinery, as separate strikes hit Jizan in a fast-escalating Red Sea exchange.
News procurement · Jul 15, 2026
Poland's $988 million Patriot GEM-T buy fills out its Wisla area-defense layer
NATO's procurement agency signed Raytheon to a $988 million contract supplying Poland with several hundred Patriot GEM-T interceptors through 2031, a cheaper area-defense missile that complements, rather than replaces, Poland's hit-to-kill PAC-3 MSE stock.
News policy · Jul 15, 2026
US Opens Patriot Missile Production Licensing to Ukraine
Washington has begun the formal licensing process for Ukraine to build Patriot interceptors domestically, a status only Germany and Japan have held. Lockheed Martin backs the move as ammunition shortages bite.