TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Patriot missile installations appeared near Taipei Songshan Airport on the third day of the Han Kuang 41 drills Friday.

The previous day during the July 9-18 military exercises saw tanks and mortar vehicles positioned near Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in a simulation of an effort to prevent the landing of Chinese air force planes. On Friday, the Air Force placed Patriot missile systems in a riverside park east of Songshan Airport, the Liberty Times reported.

The drill simulated the protection of basic infrastructure including the airport against a Chinese attack, the report said. The trucks used to move the missile systems were parked nearby.

The exercise featured the air defense missile unit rapidly moving the missile systems into position, adding a radar truck, and two missile launcher vehicles.

Taiwan reportedly operates nine Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 missile batteries acquired from the US. The batteries are deployed across the country to protect against enemy ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft.