Patriot Missile Systems
Patriot missiles came to public attention during
the 1991 Gulf War, when they were used to defend Israel, Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait against Iraqi Scuds.
The early systems only destroyed some 10% of
the Scuds engaged - basically because as the Scuds descend
they come apart and while the Patriots hit the sections they
missed the warheads.
However, software improvements now allow the
Patriot's 91-kilo warhead to explode earlier and hit all parts
of incoming missiles with high-speed fragments.
The Patriot's fire-control unit includes radar,
a powerplant, an antenna mast group and engagement control
system and eight remote-controlled missile launchers.
Its radar can track up to 50 targets at the
same time.
Details:
- Engine: Thiokol TX-486 single-thrust solid-fuel
rocket.
- Length: 5.31m.
- Weight: 696kg.
- Wing Span: 92cm.
- Height: 4 metres.
- Diameter: 40.6cm.
- Range: 68.6km.
- Speed: Mach 4.
- Weapons: 91kg blast-fragmentation warhead.
- Guidance: Phased-array radar command and semi-active
radar homing (SARH).
- First Deployed: 1981.
- Cost: $45m
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