Documents
United States Legacy Raytheon (RTX)
Patriot PAC-2
The blast-fragmentation variant of the U.S. Patriot air-defense missile, upgraded after the 1991 Gulf War for improved anti-ballistic-missile performance. It remains in widespread service alongside the newer hit-to-kill PAC-3.
In service since 1990 · 13 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
160
km range
24,000
m altitude
8
targets
170
km radar
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; battery pricing varies by contract
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 · 13 operators
In service since 1990. Status: legacy.
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. | 160 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-104C/D 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 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. | 13 |
|---|
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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KBP Instrument Design Bureau Pantsir-S1 Frequently asked questions
What is the engagement range of the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2 has a maximum engagement range of 160 km.
What is the main armament of the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2's primary weapon is the MIM-104C/D interceptor missile.
What is the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2 used for? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2 is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2? +
The Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2 is operated by 13 countries.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2 cost? +
Raytheon (RTX) Patriot PAC-2: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; battery pricing varies by contract. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
Similar systems
Raytheon (RTX)
Patriot PAC-3
Raytheon (RTX)
Patriot GEM-T
Lockheed Martin
THAAD
Almaz-Antey
Buk-M2
Related coverage
Patriot PAC-2 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.
Article industry · Aug 1, 2026
Radar Range vs. Engagement Range in Air Defense
44 air-defense systems publish both a radar range and an engagement range. The gap spans 10x to a reversed 0.3x, showing which batteries fight alone.
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 31, 2026
Iran Strikes Jordan Base, US Ends Pause With Heavy Strike Wave
IRGC ballistic missiles hit a US-linked Jordanian air base; Jordan says all five were intercepted. The US answered with a two-hour strike wave on Iran.
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 procurement · Jul 26, 2026
US Gulf Arms Sales Hit $41B in Six Months, Topping All of 2025
State Department-approved arms deals to Gulf states reached $41B in H1 2026, up from $9B for all of 2025, driven by Patriot missile orders.
News digest · Jul 25, 2026
Interceptor Economics Went From Theory to Policy This Week
From Iron Beam's few-dollar laser shots to Tomahawk-starved B-1B strikes on Iran, this week's defense news turned interceptor math into policy.
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 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.