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Patriot
Missile System provides defense of critical assets at the corps
and theater level. It is designed to engage aircraft, cruise
missiles and limited tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs). Such
capabilities were introduced with the Patriot PAC-2 system
upgrades, and more advanced PAC-3 missile, which introduces
advanced anti-tactical missile capability.
The Patriot
missile system comprises of a fire unit which consists of a phased
array radar set and engagement control station (ECS), supported by
electric power plant and antenna mast group, communications relay
and eight remotely located missile launchers with four
ready-to-fire missiles sealed in canisters that serve as both
shipping containers and launch tubes. Patriot advanced
capability-3 (PAC-3) introduces significant upgrades to the radar
and ECS, and uses the improved hit-to-kill technology designed for
the missile, offering more lethality against tactical ballistic
missiles armed with non conventional warheads.
PAC-3 can also
employment of up to 16 missiles per launcher, thereby increasing
firepower and multiple target engagement capability. According to
the US Army plans, PAC-3 and PAC-2 missiles will be used I mixed
formations, where PAC-3 will be tasked to engage maneuvering and
non-maneuvering TBMs while remaining missiles (PAC-2 and others)
will engage cruise missiles and aircraft.
A possible future complement to the Patriot is the Low Cost
Interceptor (LCI), 10 inch diameter single-stage missile, designed
to intercept and destroy cruise missiles and UAVs. The booster
will loft the missile to high altitude and then the missile will
use gravity to increase its speed before an intercept. |
