WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The new version will match future threats, the release maintained.

“Air and missile defense is about to get better,” the release stated. “The projected upgrade delivers 360-degree capability and keeps Patriot ahead of increasingly more sophisticated threats, such as aircraft, drones and cruise and ballistic missiles.”

The Patriot made a nationally televised debut during the first Gulf war 25 years ago, by shooting down SCUD missiles fired from Iraq primarily at cities in Israel.

Since then, multiple upgrades have improved the system, which is now deployed in 13 nations, according to the company website.

It is also interoperable with NATO defenses, backward compatible with earlier systems, and designed for use in latest US Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, which delivers a single view of a battle theater.