Israel to Decommission Patriot Missile Systems due to Disuse

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is preparing to phase out its aging Patriot missile defense systems in the coming months, citing limited operational use, the military announced on Tuesday.

In February, the IAF disclosed plans to decommission several Patriot batteries, with personnel set to transition to operating the Iron Dome system instead.

The Patriot array, known as Yahalom in Hebrew (meaning "diamond") within the IAF, is scheduled for permanent deactivation within two months, according to an article published on the Israeli military’s website.

"We are currently in the process of reducing the [number of] batteries until the entire system is closed," stated the head of the Aerial Defense Array’s 138th Battalion, responsible for operating the Patriot.

The U.S.-made Patriot missile batteries were initially employed with success during the 1991 Gulf War, intercepting Scud missiles launched from Iraq towards Israel. Although officially integrated into Israeli service that same year, it achieved its first interception only in 2014, downing a Hamas drone launched from the Gaza Strip.

Over the subsequent decade, the system, originally intended for aircraft interception, successfully intercepted about 10 targets, including Syrian fighter jets that breached Israeli airspace in 2014 and 2018. However, the system faced challenges, notably failing to intercept various targets during the Gulf War.

During the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Patriot was used sparingly, primarily due to instances of false identifications prompting interceptor launches.

The IAF plans to replace the retiring Patriot systems with more sophisticated air defense mechanisms.

"We realized that we need to move forward and improve our defense methods. The innovations in the [air defense] array bring a better operational and maintenance response," remarked the battalion commander.

Israel's multi-tiered air defense architecture includes the short-range Iron Dome, which has notably intercepted tens of thousands of rockets, mortars, and drones since 2011. The mid-range David’s Sling system is designed to counter medium-range projectiles, while the Arrow system is intended for intercepting large ballistic missiles.

The decision to retire the Patriot systems follows a significant test of Israel’s air defense capabilities two weeks ago, during which hundreds of missiles and drones were launched from Iran. The majority of these threats were successfully neutralized with assistance from the United States, Jordan, the United Kingdom, and France.

The fate of the retired Patriot batteries remains uncertain, with Ukraine expressing interest in acquiring these systems to bolster its air defense against Russian missile threats.