The Army's FY 2026 budget proposes a significant increase in the Patriot missile arsenal, aiming to raise the number of interceptors from approximately 3,300 to nearly 13,800. This request follows a notable demand for Patriots during conflicts with Iran. Experts, including Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and retired Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, emphasize the critical need for these systems. Additionally, significant use of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system has occurred, particularly to support Israel. The increased demand strains the supply chain as the U.S. assists allies like Ukraine and Israel against rising threats.
"You could never have enough PAC-3s," retired Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event last month, referring to the latest model of the Patriot. "It seems like the [combatant commands] line up outside the factory doors when PAC-3s are being produced."
"We've turned on the spigots [with the Patriots], particularly to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, but also Israel," David Ochmanek, a senior defense researcher at RAND and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, told The Cipher Brief. "And our industrial base was not geared up for this level of demand. So, we've been drawing down on our worldwide stocks in order to help these partners and allies defend themselves."
"It is very effective, it's one of the most tested systems out there, and it's had a very long track record," Michael Bohnert, a RAND analyst and former U.S. Navy engineer.
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