The shortage of U.S. interceptor missile systems for Iran has become so acute, that South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on March 5, that the U.S. and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defense systems based in South Korea to be used in the war on Iran, Reuters reported March 6.
On March 8 Bloomberg reported: “U.S. Forces Korea has been moving Patriot missile launchers and interceptors stationed across Korea from multiple bases to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, the Korean-language DongA newspaper reported Friday, citing South Korean official sources. The number of Patriot batteries at Osan has increased noticeably, the report added, and large U.S. transport aircraft including C-17 and C-5 planes have been deployed to the base.”
This will draw down the advanced Patriot batteries owned and deployed by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to protect American personnel and bases. The South Koreans also operate their own Patriot (PAC-2/PAC-3) systems purchased from the United States as a complement to the USKF-deployed Patriots.
