SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States troops in South Korea announced Tuesday it has deployed the upgraded version of the Patriot mobile air defense system as part of its efforts to enhance defensive capabilities.

　　The 8th United States Army of the US Forces Korea (USFK), in a news release Tuesday, said that it has introduced the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile system, an advanced version of the PAC-2 system, at its artillery battalion in Suwon Air Base,some 45 km south of Seoul.

　　"The upgraded Patriot system will bring enhanced defensive capabilities to the Peninsula as well as contribute to the overall deterrence US forces bring to the alliance," the news release said.

　　The upgraded system has new enhanced capabilities include the hit-to-kill technology, which means destroying incoming missiles through force of impact. The PAC-3 also carries a "lethality enhancer," a small blast fragmentation warhead that ensures a kill against aircraft and cruise missile, according to the news release.

　　The introduction of the new system is also made as part of a planned 11 billion US dollars investment over the next three years in the USFK to boost its capabilities.

　　The Patriot missile system is a self-contained, mobile air defense system that provides protection for critical assets and troops against aircraft, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. It was fielded in the 1980s and was first used in combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 during the Gulf War.

　　The United States is stationed 37,000 troops in South Korea. Enditem