Air Defense

MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2

Also known as
  • MIM-104C
  • PAC-2
  • Patriot PAC-2
  • Patriot Advanced Capability-2
  • PATRIOT ATM Capability Two

The MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2 is the baseline Patriot Advanced Capability-2 interceptor, a U.S. Raytheon-built upgrade that adapted the original Patriot missile for more demanding tactical ballistic-missile engagements. PAC-2 changed the missile package before Desert Storm, became the visible Patriot missile-defense baseline of the 1990 Gulf War, and remained part of coalition Patriot combat use in the 2003 Iraq War before later PAC-2 GEM/GEM-T and PAC-3 interceptors took over the modernized Patriot mix.

MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2, Patriot PAC-2 surface-to-air and tactical ballistic-missile interceptor, Air Defense
Image source: PATRIOT Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) -04

Role in Conflicts

1990 Gulf War
Air DefenseForce Protection

PAC-2 production was accelerated for Operation Desert Shield/Storm, with PAC-2 missiles shipped to the theater and Patriot batteries used against Iraqi Scud and Al Hussein ballistic-missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Raytheon
Type
Patriot PAC-2 surface-to-air and tactical ballistic-missile interceptor
Service note
Late Cold War Patriot missile upgrade first rushed into combat during the 1990-1991 Gulf War and later superseded by PAC-2 GEM and PAC-3 families
Designer
Raytheon-led Patriot/SAM-D development lineage
Designed
PAC-2 production authorized in December 1988 after earlier PAC-1 software-based ballistic-missile capability
Produced
Initial PAC-2 production accelerated in 1990 for Operation Desert Shield/Storm; followed by PAC-2 GEM production in the mid-1990s
Developed from
MIM-104 Patriot
Developed into
PAC-2 GEM and MIM-104E Patriot PAC-2 GEM/T

Specifications

Guidance
Track-via-missile guidance through the Patriot engagement radar and ground control system
Warhead
Blast-fragmentation warhead with larger fragments than earlier MIM-104A/B rounds; Designation-Systems lists MIM-104C/D at 84 kg
Fuze
Dual-mode pulse-Doppler proximity fuze optimized for tactical ballistic missiles while retaining aircraft-engagement mode
Target set
Tactical ballistic missiles and air-breathing targets; later PAC-2 GEM/GEM-T rounds expanded performance against low-RCS and high-speed threats
Launcher loadout
Four PAC-2 missiles per Patriot launching station, one missile per canister
System dependency
Requires Patriot radar, engagement control station, launcher, power, and communications components
Baseline Role

PAC-2 is useful as its own catalog entry because it marks Patriot's first major missile-hardware step into wartime tactical ballistic-missile defense. Later GEM, GEM-T, and PAC-3 rounds are not just renamings of the same interceptor: they represent later seeker, fuze, engagement, and hit-to-kill paths layered onto the Patriot system.

Desert Storm baseline

The Army accelerated PAC-2 production for Operation Desert Shield/Storm and shipped the first PAC-2 missiles to the theater in September 1990.

OIF mixed load

In 2003, U.S. and coalition Patriot forces used improved PAC-2 missiles alongside PAC-3 interceptors, with the Defense Science Board assigning most Patriot missile-defense engagements to PAC-2.

Modern distinction

Ukraine-related public sourcing found for this run points to PAC-2 GEM-T and Patriot systems, so baseline PAC-2 is not attached to the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War row here.

Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems; Patriot System Performance Report Summary; RTX's Raytheon to Deliver Patriot Interceptors to Ukraine.

Variants

PAC-2 sits between Patriot's early software-based PAC-1 ballistic-missile capability and the later PAC-2 GEM/GEM-T and PAC-3 interceptor families.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
PAC-1Software-based tactical ballistic-missile capability

PAC-1 used Patriot ground-equipment software changes to give the system an initial ability to engage tactical ballistic missiles before PAC-2 added missile hardware changes.

Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems, Patriot

PAC-2 GEMPost-Desert Storm PAC-2 improvement

The Army history describes GEM as a postwar anti-tactical-ballistic-missile improvement to PAC-2 that could hit targets at higher altitude and farther downrange than the Desert Storm PAC-2 baseline.

Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems

MIM-104E Patriot PAC-2 GEM/T, Patriot PAC-2 guidance-enhanced interceptor missile, Air DefenseMIM-104E Patriot PAC-2 GEM/TGuidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical interceptor

GEM-T is the later PAC-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile branch used as a complementary Patriot effector for tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft.

Sources: Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile

PAC-3, Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missile, Air DefensePAC-3Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor family

PAC-3 replaced the large PAC-2 blast-fragmentation missile concept with a smaller hit-to-kill interceptor family for modern Patriot batteries.

Sources: Patriot, Patriot System Performance Report Summary

Launch System

PAC-2 is an interceptor round for Patriot batteries rather than a standalone firing unit.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
MIM-104 Patriot, Long-range surface-to-air and ballistic missile defense system, Air DefenseMIM-104 PatriotIntegrated air and missile defense system

Patriot fire units provide the radar, engagement control, launch station, power, and communications architecture that lets PAC-2-family missiles engage aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles.

Sources: Patriot, Patriot Air Defense Systems

Timeline

MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2 Key Events

  1. Patriot demonstrates tactical-missile potential

    Patriot intercepted a Lance missile using software changes only, establishing the PAC-1 path that PAC-2 would later expand with missile hardware changes.

    Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems

  2. PAC-2 production authorized

    The Army authorized production of PATRIOT ATM Capability Two, described by Redstone Arsenal history as a missile upgrade to increase Patriot's kill capability.

    Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems

  3. First accelerated PAC-2 missiles delivered

    After the decision to deploy Patriot for Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the first nine accelerated PAC-2 missiles were delivered on August 31, 1990, almost five months ahead of schedule.

    Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems

  4. Patriot combat use begins

    Army historical information identifies January 18, 1991 as Patriot's first combat use against an Iraqi Scud fired at Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm.

    Sources: Patriot Air Defense Systems

  5. Dhahran failure exposes system limits

    GAO later found that a Patriot battery at Dhahran failed to track and intercept an incoming Scud because of a software problem in the weapon control computer.

    Sources: Patriot Missile Defense: Software Problem Led to System Failure at Dhahran

  6. PAC-2 and PAC-3 used in Iraq

    The Defense Science Board reported that improved PAC-2 missiles and PAC-3 interceptors were both used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, with most Patriot missile-defense engagements falling to PAC-2.

    Sources: Patriot System Performance Report Summary

Media

MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2 Images

MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2, Patriot PAC-2 surface-to-air and tactical ballistic-missile interceptor, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Patriot Missiles Launch during Palau Live-Fire Exercise
MIM-104C Patriot PAC-2, Patriot PAC-2 surface-to-air and tactical ballistic-missile interceptor, Air Defense - view 2
Source: Patriot Missile Launches during Palau Live-Fire Exercise
Related Weapon Systems
MIM-104 Patriot, Long-range surface-to-air and ballistic missile defense system, Air DefenseAir DefenseMIM-104 PatriotLong-range surface-to-air and ballistic missile defense systemThe MIM-104 Patriot is a U.S.-origin, truck-mobile air and missile defense system built around phased-array radar, command-and-control vehicles, launchers, power generation, antenna masts, support vehicles, and PAC-2 or PAC-3 interceptor families. Developed from the 1960s SAM-D program, it evolved from aircraft defense into a high-value air and missile defense layer used in Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Yemen, Ukraine, Gulf base defense, and reported 2026 Iran-war drone defense over Bahrain.
PAC-3, Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missile, Air DefenseAir DefensePAC-3Hit-to-kill Patriot interceptor missilePAC-3 is the hit-to-kill interceptor family for Patriot air-defense batteries, using active radar homing and direct-impact defeat against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and other high-value air threats. PAC-3 CRI gives Patriot launchers a dense 16-round loadout, while PAC-3 MSE uses a larger dual-pulse motor and control changes for greater defended battlespace; documented combat and transfer contexts include Iraq in 2003, Yemen, Ukraine, and U.S.-Qatari Patriot defense during the June 2025 Iran missile attack on Al Udeid.
Standard Missile-2 (SM-2), Shipboard surface-to-air missile family, MunitionsMunitionsStandard Missile-2 (SM-2)Shipboard surface-to-air missile familyThe Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) is a Raytheon-built shipboard surface-to-air missile family used by U.S. and allied navies for fleet area air defense and ship self-defense. Aegis ships launch SM-2 from vertical launch systems, guide it by inertial navigation and mid-course commands, and use semi-active radar or infrared terminal homing in later medium-range blocks. U.S. Navy reporting documents USS Carney firing an SM-2 in October 2023 during Red Sea defense operations against Houthi missiles and drones.

Sources

Patriot Air Defense SystemsPublisher: U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports Patriot development chronology, PAC-1 and PAC-2 authorization, Desert Shield/Storm PAC-2 acceleration and shipment, and 1990 Gulf War direct PAC-2 conflict-use context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07PatriotPublisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports Patriot system background, battery components, PAC-1/PAC-2/PAC-3 lineage, launcher-loadout context, and direct 1990 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War Patriot PAC-2 combat-use context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Patriot System Performance Report SummaryPublisher: Defense Science Board / Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct use: improved PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors were used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, with most tactical-ballistic-missile engagements falling to PAC-2. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Patriot Missile Defense: Software Problem Led to System Failure at DhahranPublisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office | Note: Supports 1990 Gulf War context and the Dhahran failure caveat for Patriot missile-defense performance during Operation Desert Storm. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Patriot Guidance Enhanced MissilePublisher: Raytheon / RTX | Note: Supports manufacturer background for the later GEM-T branch and its role as a Patriot PAC-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile effector. | Accessed: 2026-07-07RTX's Raytheon to Deliver Patriot Interceptors to UkrainePublisher: Raytheon / RTX | Note: Supports the sourcing distinction that the 2026 Ukraine interceptor contract concerns PAC-2 GEM-T, not the baseline PAC-2 conflict row in this record. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Raytheon MIM-104 PatriotPublisher: Designation-Systems.Net | Note: Supports missile-specific designation context for MIM-104C/PAC-2, PAC-1/PAC-2/PAC-2 GEM lineage, warhead-fragment and fuze distinctions, launcher canister context, and 1990 Gulf War direct use: PAC-1 and PAC-2 systems were used against Iraqi Al Hussein ballistic missiles during Operation Desert Storm. | Accessed: 2026-07-07FM 3-01.11 Chapter 5: Patriot Air Defense SystemPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org mirror of U.S. Army field manual | Note: Supports PAC-2/MIM-104C missile identity, launcher loadout, Patriot fire-unit components, new PAC-2 warhead and dual-mode fuze, target-set context, GEM lineage, and PAC-3 distinction. | Accessed: 2026-07-07PATRIOT Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) -04Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a U.S. Missile Defense Agency PAC-2 Patriot interceptor image. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Patriot Missiles Launch during Palau Live-Fire ExercisePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a U.S. Army PAC-2 Patriot interceptor launch image. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Patriot Missile Launches during Palau Live-Fire ExercisePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for another U.S. Army PAC-2 Patriot interceptor launch image. | Accessed: 2026-07-07