Patriot PAC-2 missiles: When Ukraine got them and what targets can they intercept
US President Donald Trump said Ukraine will receive a license to produce missiles for Patriot systems, though it involves a less advanced version of the weapon. That version is PAC-2, which is already being used to protect Ukrainian airspace.
RBC-Ukraine explains the key facts about PAC-2 missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
What is PAC-2 and how does it differ from PAC-3?
PAC-2 is a family of surface-to-air guided missiles for the Patriot system. Its most widely used modern variant is the GEM-T (Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical).
US defense contractor L3Harris explains that the PAC-2 is a "one-stage, solid-fuel, ground-launched interceptor".
It was first used during the Gulf War and can destroy tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft using a conventional high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
The GEM-T upgrade allows the PAC-2 to detect targets with a low radar signature more effectively and to detonate more precisely near ballistic targets.
The next generation, PAC-3, starting with the CRI variant, improved interception capabilities through hit-to-kill technology, replacing the conventional blast fragmentation.
Who makes PAC-2
PAC-2 GEM-T missiles are produced by US company Raytheon, a division of RTX. The main production facilities are located in the United States. In July 2026, the US Army ordered a new batch of PAC-2 GEM-T missiles for the first time in more than 30 years to replenish stocks used during combat operations against Iran.
At the same time, since 2022, the right to manufacture this missile in Europe has been granted to Germany—specifically the Raytheon and MBDA Deutschland joint venture, COMLOG, located in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria.
In April 2026, Raytheon also signed a $3.7 billion contract to supply PAC-2 GEM-T missiles to Ukraine. Some of the missiles will be produced at the German facility, while others will be manufactured in the United States.
What targets are PAC-2 used against
PAC-2 GEM-T is designed to intercept aerodynamic targets, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones, at ranges of up to 160 km. According to Defence Express, these missiles were used to counter Russian aircraft at significant distances from the front line in 2023–2024.
PAC-3 missiles remain effective against ballistic and aeroballistic missiles, while the PAC-2's capabilities in this area are more limited.
The first Patriot system arrived in Ukraine in April 2023. At the time, systems were supplied by Germany, the United States and the Netherlands.
The issue of producing and supplying Patriot missiles has become more pressing in Ukraine ahead of the winter season and amid a possible US decision to grant a license for Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles, which Donald Trump announced.
According to the US president, the license would cover only a less advanced version of the weapon. Based on reports from outlets that Trump himself had previously shared, this could refer to the PAC-2 GEM-T or a new, lower-cost version of the PAC-3 called the Adapted Capability Effector.
Back in August, former US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg explained why Washington was stalling the transfer of such a license. The opposition came from defense companies themselves, including Lockheed Martin, which are concerned about losing control over their proprietary technologies.
Amid the debate over the license, Germany announced on September 8, during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, that it would urgently provide Ukraine with PAC-2 interceptor missiles directly from Bundeswehr stocks.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the move was necessary to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses ahead of the winter season. Poland then announced that it was preparing its own aid package following Berlin's decision.
