The US Army can rush Patriot batteries off to global hot spots in days. Here's what the scramble looks like.

The US Army can move a Patriot battery across the world in a matter of days. US Army photo The MIM-104 Patriot is a cornerstone of the Army's air defense capabilities. The Army has surged Patriot batteries across continents and around the world in response to crises. Army officers told Business Insider how Patriot crews quickly deploy into combat. The US Army's Patriot surface-to-air missile system has emerged as a cornerstone of its air defense operations in recent years, protecting American forces and allies from missile and drone threats. Getting one of the most in-demand air defense systems into position in a crisis is a massive logistical undertaking, but Army officers involved in past Patriot deployments told Business Insider that the US military can fly the crews, launchers, radars, and interceptors off to whatever hot spot needs them in just a matter of days.