The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has been informed about the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system's functioning and other requirements.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma issued a statement over the weekend. Consuelo Castillo stated that it was made feasible at the air and missile defense subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) held on April 19 by the United States Army's 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at the Naval Education, Training, and Doctrine Command in San Antonio, Zambales.

The Patriot is a high- to medium-range air defense system and one of the United States flagship missile systems.

The SMEE is a component of the ongoing "Balikatan" exercises, which began on April 11 and will conclude on April 28.

Participants in the PAF are from the 960th Air and Missile Defense Group (AMDG), which operates the recently activated ground-based air defense system (GBADS) comprised of Israeli SPYDER medium-range missiles.

The PAF commissioned and activated the first two GBADS batteries on November 8, 2017.

GBADS, also known as the SPYDER Philippines Air Defense System, is a mobile air and missile defense system designed to protect critical installations, land-based fixed assets, mobile platforms, and friendly forces from aerial threats such as combat aircraft, attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, incoming missiles, guided munition, and rockets.

It may also be utilized to neutralize surveillance hazards in some instances.

The Philippines and Singapore are the only two countries in Southeast Asia that use this sophisticated missile system.

Castillo further stated that the GBADS is a Horizon 2 acquisition project of the AFP Modernization Program.

The first two GBAD batteries were delivered on September 24 and 29, 2022, respectively, with the third battery due on May 24, 2024.

A typical PAF GBADS battery has a command and control unit, three primary fire units with four missile launchers, and two support vehicles for field service and munition resupply.

The GBADS deal is worth PHP 6,846,750,000 and comprises integrated logistics support, a simulator, a missile maintenance facility, and personnel training for air defense systems missiles.

On September 23, 2019, the Department of National Defense signed the GBADS contract with the Israel Ministry of Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense System Ltd.

Meanwhile, on April 21, the PAF's 15th Strike Wing's A-29B "Super Tucano" and the US Air Force's 17th Special Operations Squadron's AC-130J conducted a live gunnery exercise at Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac.

The 320th Special Tactics Squadron's Joint Terminal Attack Control monitored the entire exercise.