Philippines trains on Patriot, Avenger missile systems

The Philippine troops have learnt the operations of the MIM-104 Patriot SAM system and the Avenger air-defence system, an example of which is pictured above, from the US in Exercise ‘Balikatan’. (Boeing)

The US and Philippine troops conducted joint training on the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and the Avenger air-defence system in Exercise ‘Balikatan’.

According to a statement by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the service’s 960th Air and Missile Defense Group (AMDG) was briefed on the operations and other specifications of the Patriot system during the training conducted by the US Army’s 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma Consuelo Castillo said the service understood “operations, role, various specifications, capabilities, and key parts of the Patriot missile defence system involving the radar set, engagement control station, missile launchers, and missiles” in the training.

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery and Air Defence, the Patriot is a ground-based air-defence system (GBADS) utilising a missile interceptor to defeat a range of airborne threats at a short range. The Patriot fires the MIM-104 series missiles.