The Israeli army abandons the US Patriot system
The Israeli army announced its decision to permanently stop using the US Patriot defense systems, more than three decades after their adoption within the Israeli defense system, according to a report by the Israeli Walla website.
According to the report, which was issued on Tuesday evening, the Patriot system began to be used in Israel during the 1990s, specifically during the Gulf War, and the Israeli Air Force recently confirmed that these systems will be permanently withdrawn from service.
One of the reasons behind the decision to withdraw the Patriot system from service is the availability of new alternatives that are more advanced in defensive capabilities, which led to exceeding the capabilities of the old US system.
Israel now has modern defense systems capable of dealing with various threats more effectively, according to Walla website.
The cost of operating US Patriot missiles is high compared to other defense systems.
Therefore, the decision is part of the IDF’s strategy to increase efficiency and reduce expenses.
In light of these developments, the Israeli army conducted a comprehensive assessment and concluded that it no longer needed the Patriot system, especially with the adoption of a multi-layered defense strategy using systems such as the Iron Dome and the David’s Sling.
According to Brigadier General (res.) Ilan Biton, who was a former commander of the Israeli Air Force, pointed out that the shift in focus in the air defense system towards more advanced systems makes continuing investment in the Patriot system unfeasible.
In an official statement, the Israeli Air Force stated that the process of withdrawing the Patriot system from service will take place in the coming months.
This decision comes in the wake of an assessment of the situation after a drone and ballistic missile attack from Iran in mid-April, which was efficiently confronted by other defense systems.
The Patriot system has been part of the Israeli defense system since the end of the First Gulf War, and was used to confront attacks from fighters or ballistic missiles.
The system successfully intercepted 19 enemy targets, including drones and long-range missiles.
However, recent trends in air defense show that Patriot systems are no longer the optimal choice, prompting the IDF to decide to remove them from service permanently.
