The US Army plans to spend over $1.3 billion on Patriot missiles in the new fiscal year starting from October 1st, and has quietly increased the overall procurement target for this air defense weapon to four times its original amount. This weapon has proven to be crucial not only for Ukraine, but also for the US military presence in the Middle East. According to the accompanying documents of the US Army's 2026 fiscal year budget application, a senior Army officials group responsible for proposing military requirements has increased the procurement plan for the most advanced Patriot interceptor missiles from 3376 to 13773. The group has set the above requirements, but this requirement will not automatically translate into actual budget figures or recent contracts. US Congress members are developing policies and funding bills for the Department of Defense, which may take these predictions into consideration. This reflects the Army's investment in Patriot missiles: as the United States and its allies and partners seek to strengthen air and missile defense, the demand for Patriot missiles is increasing. The latest model, the Patriot-3 Segmented Enhanced Missile (PAC-3 MSE), manufactured by Lockheed Martin, can intercept drones, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. L3 Harris Technologies provides solid rocket engines. Ukraine heavily relies on the Patriot missile system and interceptor missiles provided by the United States and its allies to protect its population centers from Russian attacks. Since the full-scale outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with three sets of "Patriot" missile systems and an unknown number of interceptors. US President Trump has confirmed that he will send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, possibly including the Patriot missile system. The Army's budget document shows that 2047 PAC-3 MSEs were purchased before the 2024 fiscal year, and 230 and 214 were purchased in the 2024 and current fiscal years, respectively. The Army has applied to purchase 224 Patriot missiles for $945.9 million in fiscal year 2026, of which $549.6 million comes from the base budget and $396.3 million is used to support the "Atlantic Resolve" operation to strengthen NATO's defense in Europe. The document shows that the tax and spending bill signed by Trump last week increased defense appropriations by billions of dollars and will add $366 million to purchase an additional 96 interceptor missiles. The US military stationed in the Middle East has used the Patriot missile system to assist Israel and protect the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Iran's missile threat. Previously, the United States launched an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. General John Daniel Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters last month that the US military in Qatar "completely destroyed" 14 incoming Iranian missiles. Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, "After years of analyzing ammunition and missile interception deficiencies, we have finally received more prescriptions - increasing the Patriot interceptor missile to four times its original size sounds right. But to be healthy, it means taking medicine in the form of financial appropriations and multi-year contracts. Even with all of this, it is not an easy thing and will not happen overnight." US Army spokesman Steve Warren told reporters on the 8th that the Army has been providing stable funding for the production of Patriot missiles for many years, but "increasing production is a challenge. In March of this year, Lockheed Martin announced that its PAC-3 team significantly increased production last year, creating a new historical high, and delivered 500 Patriot missiles. The company stated that it has increased production by over 30% compared to 2023, and added that it plans to further increase production by 20% this year. (New Society)