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MIM-104 Patriot

1981 COLD WAR GULF WAR MODERN

MIM-104 Patriot History

The MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile system became a household name when it appeared on the global stage during the 1991 Gulf War. It was used to protect Israel and Saudi Arabia from Iraqi Scud attacks targeting civilian areas. Preliminary reports indicate an interception success rate of nearly 100 percent, promoting the system as one of the most effective surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems in the world. However, these missiles were later found to have a success rate of almost 40 percent or less, leading to several major upgrades to the series.

Today, the Patriot is considered a greatly improved SAM system and has been adopted by many U.S. allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

Design work on the missile that would become the Patriot began in the late 1960s, while the missile was still developing into a viable air defense weapon system. Design work includes names like Thor, Hughes and RCA. In 1975, a missile successfully intercepted a drone over the fabled White Sands Missile Range.

From there, the weapon was named the "Patriot" and was adopted by the U.S. Army in the early 1980s under the codename "MIM-104". Commissioned in 1981 and began full deployment in 1984.

By 1991 and during the Gulf War, the system had undergone major updates, adding some missile interception capabilities and expanding its tactical value.

To date, the Patriot system has been produced in 1,280 launchers, with over 10,000 missiles in circulation. The U.S. Army alone has about 1,100 Patriot launch vehicles in its inventory.

The Patriot Missile Company is a complete SAM system including missiles, launch vehicle components, launch vehicles and associated fire control components. Launch vehicle components are often attached to wheeled trailers or 8x8 wheeled trucks to provide the required mobility when Patriots are stationed in and around critical installations and areas.

Therefore, the Patriot can be used to defend any type of airspace - airports, cities, bases, bridges. Its launch component supports four missiles in a two-two configuration, typically firing multiple missiles at a single target to ensure target destruction and increase overall kill rates. The system is managed by AN/MPQ-53/-65 series radars coupled to the OQ-349 Antenna Tower Group (AMG) and AN/MSQ-104 Engagement Control Station (ECS).

The command post is used to connect the missile battery to the main combat network.

The Patriot missile system family began with the original MIM-104A model, which lacked the ABM combat qualities of later brands. The MIM-104B (PAC-1) was the first major upgrade in the series, improving the software side, while the MIM-104C (PAC-2) introduced missile interception qualities first observed during the Gulf War. The MIM-104D (PAC-2/GEM) brought additional software and missile upgrades in the 1990s, making it a more viable and capable SAM system, while the MIM-104F (PAC-3) recently added Major upgrades have been made, improving all aspects of the design - software, missiles, communications, etc. With this marking, the defense against ballistic missiles has also been improved.

The PAC-3 missiles are contained in four quad launchers for a total of 16 missiles, with four launchers per launcher unit.

While the Patriot missile system was significantly underperforming during the 1991 Gulf War, it has performed much better in recent battles between the US and Israeli forces, such as the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and Israel's The ongoing fighting between Israel and Israel is the case of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In the latter case, Israeli Patriot missiles intercepted at least two drones launched by Hamas.

Turkey has deployed Patriot missile batteries to protect its airspace from flooding caused by the Syrian civil war (since 2011).

August 2018 - The Swedish government has announced its commitment to the MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile system in light of the growing Russian threat in the east.

September 2018 US government approved $2. A $1 billion deal with South Korea includes Patriot missile batteries and six P-8A maritime patrols.