U.S. Army officials have disclosed that a next-generation modification of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system will be capable of engaging targets located behind the launch platform—a capability long associated with Russia’s S-300 air defense system.
The update, announced on December 16 following discussions between U.S. Army officials and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, involves Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mebes, head of the lower-tier interceptor project. According to military sources, new digital simulations demonstrate this “shoulder shot” capability in the system’s updated configuration.
The term “shoulder shot” refers to a missile system’s ability to fire 360 degrees around its installation—a feature first implemented in the Soviet S-300 air defense system, which entered service in 1978. This same capability now standard across advanced systems including Russia’s S-400, China’s HQ-9B, and North Korean missile defenses.
The modernization of the Patriot system was driven by escalating capabilities of ballistic and cruise missiles from potential adversaries.
