The Patriot missile was designed to counter short-range (also known as theater) ballistic missiles. It features a track-via-missile guidance system that allows MPQ-53 radar to steer it toward the target (incoming ballistic missile). In the terminal phase of the flight the Patriot missile transmits targets position updated data to the ground stations and the MSQ-104's computer sends back to the Patriot missile correction calculations. The corrected data enables the Patriot missile to intercept the ballistic missile. Usually the speed of both the ballistic missile and the Patriot missile are in excess of 5,000 km/h.

The Patriot missile was intended against ballistic targets and aircraft. The production Patriot missile is supplied inside an aluminum canister that acts as a launch tube and storage container.