US President Donald Trump said that he would send MIM-104 Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, although he had previously repeatedly opposed such

The MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems has proved critical in helping shield Ukraine from Russian attacks.

Amid escalating Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine, simmering tensions in the Middle East, and a Europe seeking to rearm in the face of an ever-more belligerent Kremlin, one piece of military kit in particular is currently in hot demand across the globe —  Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles.

DONALD Trump sending long-range weapons to Ukraine could be a game-changer for the war by helping halt Vladimir Putin’s nightly blitzes, experts said. Trump, who appears to be growing

The US Department of Defense (DoD) currently has only 25 percent of the interceptors needed for all its military plans, with conflicts in the Middle East contributing to the shortage.

Since the Patriot's introduction in 1981, around 1,100 have been acquired by the U.S. Army. Approximately 200 of the produced launchers have been exported.

The United States is planning to spend USD 1.3 billion to produce interceptor missiles for the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system. The US Army has also quietly