Raytheon (Chalet 294) has reported that its Patriot missile system has performed nearly 150 successful combat intercepts of ballistic missiles since the start of 2015. Most, if not all, of the firings have been conducted during the fighting in Yemen, where Houthi rebel forces have been firing Tochka, Scud and Qaher missiles, the latter being an SA-2 surface-to-air missile converted for surface-to-surface use. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have Patriot systems deployed in the region.

Currently there are 13 Patriot customer nations, but two more are expected before the end of the year. Both Poland and Romania issued Letters of Request in March this year. Coincidentally, Romania is host to the EPAA (European Phase Adapative Approach) Phase 2 missile installation with Raytheon’s Standard Missile 3 Block 1B, while the Phase 3 battery with SM-3 Block 2A is to be operational in Poland next year. The offer to Poland includes a 50 percent workshare element.

In the meantime, Raytheon has just successfully completed land-based testing of the SM-6 Block 1A, which introduces improvements to the guidance section that expand its capabilities against advanced threats. With the tests complete at the USS Desert Ship facility at White Sands, New Mexico, SM-6 Block 1A now moves into the at-sea test phase before low-rate initial production begins later this year.

SM-6 is proving to be a highly versatile naval defense system, adding a terminal-phase engagement capability against ballistic missiles to its air defense mission. Furthermore, it can be employed in offensive surface-to-surface roles.