Raytheon's modernized Patriot Air and Missile Defense System successfully fired two PAC-3 missiles to engage a tactical ballistic missile (TBM) at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. This is the first time PAC-3 missiles have been fired from a new-production Patriot system.

"The demonstrated flawless performance of the modernized Patriot system means our customers can deliver the most advanced air and missile defense capabilities to warfighters quickly, affordably and with lower risk exposure," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president for Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

"With Patriot now in full-rate production, they can also expect improved reliability and reduced costs for decades to come."

This test comes on the heels of the successful system-level guided flight test of the new-production Patriot system on March 21 and the successful test of the first ground-up production GEM-T missile (Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical) announced in October 2011 - all further proof of modernized Patriot system's high performance and reliability with both GEM-T and PAC-3 missiles.