MIM-104 Patriot SAM
The MIM-104 Patriot leaps skyward (U.S. Army Photo)
MIM-104 Patriot Specifications
| Origin: | Raytheon Missile Systems Division
|
| Type: | Medium-range surface-to-air missile
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| Length (missile): | 17ft 5in (5.31m)
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| Body Diameter (missile): | 16in (40.6cm)
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| Span (missile): | 36in (92cm)
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| Launch Weight: | 1,534lbs (696kg)
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| Propulsion: | Thiokol TX-486 single-thrust solid-fuel rocket
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| Guidance: | Phased-array radar command and semi-active radar homing (SARH)
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| Range: | 37nm (42.6mi; 68.6km)
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| Flight Speed: | Mach 4
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| Warhead: | 200lb (91kg) blast-fragmentation
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BACKGROUND
Originally known as the SAM-D, the Patriot was developed in the 1970's and '80's as a replacement
for the U.S. Nike-Hercules SAM. The Patriot has had a long and protracted development phase, development
having being completed in 1980, and entering service with the U.S. Army in 1984.
The Patriot had originally been concieved solely as a medium range defense against hostile aircraft
but in the mid 1980's newer, quicker software was added in order to give it the capability to engage enemy
ballistic missiles. This capability was demonstrated in the 1991 Gulf War, when Patriots engaged Iraqi
Scuds. However, later reports showed that only about 10% of Scuds engaged were actually destroyed: this is because
as the Scud descended to earth, the missile broke up, and the Patriot often hit pieces of the Scud, but missed the
warhead. This problem has been addressed with software upgrade programs which allow the Patriot's 200-pound blast-fragmentation
warhead to detonate a millisecond sooner, showering all of the target's various pieces with high-speed fragments. Also, engagements
against target missiles and aircraft are always made with 2 Patriots to increase the lethality of the Patriot system.
The MIM-104 Patriot's fire-control unit comprises a radar set, an equipment powerplant (EPP), an antenna mast group (AMG),
an engagement control system (ECS), and finally 8 remotely-controlled missile launchers.
The phased-array radar performs the roles of surveillance, target detection and track, and missile guidance. The radar can track up
to 50 targets simultaneously. The radar has exceptionally high performance even in high clutter and electronic countermeasures (ECM) environments.
Each of the two firing batteries contains 4 ready-to-fire missiles contained in sealed box canisters, inside which
the missiles are also transported.
An upgrade under way, known as PAC-3, will incorporate 16 "hit-to-kill" missiles in two 8-round batteries. The PAC-3 will provide enhanced anti-missile
capability against both maneovering and non-maneovering targets. Currently, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel are acquiring
the Patriot SAM.
