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December 12, 2004

The United States has completed moving two Patriot anti-missile batteries from Ft Bliss, Texas, to South Korea. Each battery has a radar and fire control unit, and eight launchers (each with four missiles.) The two batteries, from the 35th Air Defense Brigade, are using the PAC-3 version of the Patriot missile, which is modified to hit incoming ballistic missiles. This missile was used successfully in Iraq in 2003. The 425 soldiers with the two missile batteries are stationed at the Korean air base in Kwangju. Another 125 troops from the 35th Brigade headquarters are stationed at an American air base at Osan. The PAC-3 missiles will provide some protection from the hundreds of North Korean SCUD ballistic missiles stationed to the north.