The
MIM-104 Patriot is a
surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the primary of its kind used by the
United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the U.S. defense contractor
Raytheon and derives its name from the
radar component of the weapon system. The AN/MPQ-53 at the heart of the system is known as the "
Phased array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target" or the
bacronym PATRIOT. The Patriot System replaced the
Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium Air Defense (HIMAD) system, and replaced the
MIM-23 Hawk system as the U.S. Army's medium tactical air defense system. In addition to these roles, Patriot has been given the function of the U.S. Army's
anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system, which is now Patriot's primary mission.