The Israeli Air Force plans to say goodbye to its aging Patriot missile defense systems in the coming months, replacing the batteries with more advanced air defenses, The Times of Israel reports citing Israeli military officials.
“We are currently in the process of reducing the batteries until we no longer use the entire system,” said the chief of the 138th Air Defense Battalion, which operates the Patriots.
In February, the Israeli military said it was in the process of phasing out several Patriot batteries, and that its personnel would be trained to operate the Iron Dome instead. This Tuesday, the Israeli Army reported that it plans to abandon the Patriot system within two months.
VIDEO: This is how Israel intercepted Iranian missiles and drones
The Patriot system has reportedly been in service in Israel since 1991, and in 2014 it made its first interception, shooting down a Hamas drone. However, the military reports that the system did not always fulfill its task and only shot down 10 targets in the following decade.
Amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, the Patriot has been used a handful of times, although in most cases interceptors were launched due to false identifications.
What does Israel’s air defense system consist of?
Israel has a multi-layered air defense system developed with the support of the US. The Arrow system is designed to intercept long-range missiles. Another system, David’s Sling, is intended to intercept medium-range missiles, such as those possessed by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Patriot system, the oldest member of Israel’s missile defense system, was used during the First Gulf War in 1991. Today, Patriots are used to shoot down aircraft, including drones. For its part, Iron Dome specializes in shooting down short-range rockets and has intercepted thousands of rockets since its activation early last decade. Israel claims it has a success rate of over 90%. With RT