A surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to shoot down aerial threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Equipped with an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high performance radar systems, the patriot missiles were extensively used during the 1991 Gulf war. Manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Florida, patriot missiles have been deployed in many countries, including Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and South Korea.