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From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Patriot
Message-ID: <1991Jan25.033552.12420@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 25 Jan 91 03:35:52 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)

    The Patriot Tactical Air Defense Missile System is a medium and
    high altitude ground-to-air system.  It's mobile, all-weather, with
    a high-kill probability, fast reaction time, and multiple target
    engagement capability.  It's designed to operate in an intense
    countermeasures environment.   It was designed to replace the Hawk.

    The combat element of the system is the fire unit which consists of
    a radar set, an engagement control station, a power plant, and up to
    eight remotely located launchers.  The system is highly automated
    combining high-speed digital processing with various software routines
    to effectively control the battlespace.  The single phased-array radar
    provides for all tactical functions of airspace surveillance, target
    detection and track, and support of missile guidance.  It uses a
    command guidance through midcourse, with terminal guidance provided by
    "track-via-missile".  As the missile nears its target, it informs the
    ground-based radar of its location in relation to the target.  Ground
    based computers then direct the missile on a path to ensure a kill.

    The only manned element of the fire unit during battle is the engagement
    control station which provides human interface for control of automated
    operations.   

    Each launcher contains four ready-to-fire missiles, sealed in canisters,
    which also serve as shipping containers and launch tubes.

    Product improvements include the antitactical ballistic missile 
    capability known as PAC-1 and PAC-2 which consisted of system radar
    software modifications that enable the detection, tracking, and 
    interception of high-angle approach short-range ballistic missiles.
    PAC-1 was completed in 1988 - PAC-2 is scheduled to be completed in 1991.

    ---------------------

    Seven Patriot battalions were deployed to US Forces in Europe. 

    The first foreign sale of Patriot was to the Netherlands in 1984, with
    delivery in March 1986.  Patriot is also being deployed extensively
    in Germany - delivered in December 1986.  Japan is licensed to produce
    Patriot with hardware delivered in June 1987.  Italy will be receiving
    Patriot in 1990s and will be producing some hardware.

    ----------------------

    Origin:         Raytheon
    Dimensions:     Length 209in, diameter 16in, span 36in
    Launch weight:  about 1,500lbs
    Propulsion:     Thiokol TX-486 single thrust motor
    Range:          about 48Km
    Flight Speed:   about Mach 3
    Warhead:        Conventional blast/frag

    The US had hoped to buy 103 fire units and 6,200 missiles ($6 billion)

    -----------------------

    Sources: 
    US Army Weapons Systems Research, Development, and Acquisition (1986) 
    US Army Green Book (1990-1991)
    The US War Machine, Rev (1988)


    Mike Schmitt

    
    We used to call air defenders "Cloud Busters", now we'll have to call
    them "Scud Busters".