This is the Patriot missile defense system that just 'failed catastrophically' in Saudi Arabia
Developed by Raytheon, the MIM-104 Patriot became operational in 1985 and is now the US Army's main missile defense system.
Each Patriot launcher holds four missile canisters.
The Patriot fires two kinds of missiles: the Pac-2s and Pac-3s.
The main difference between the Pac-2 and the Pac-3 is that the Pac-3 has a radar transmitter and guidance computer and uses hit-to-kill technology, directly hitting the targeted missile with a small warhead.
The Pac-2s, on the other hand, explode near the target to either knock it off its course or explode it.
The Pac-2 replaced the older Pac-1.
Only one Pac-2, which the Saudis used to try to shoot down the Houthi missiles over the weekend, fits in a canister.
Pac-2s have a maximum speed of Mach 5, a maximum range of more than 60 miles and a maximum altitude of 20 miles.
Source: Missile Defense Agency
Four Pac-3s, on the other hand, which are smaller than Pac-2s, fit in each canister.
They have a maximum speed of Mach 5, a maximum range of 9 to 28 miles, depending on the target, and a maximum altitude of 6 to 9 miles.
Source: globalsecurity.org
Here's what an empty launcher looks like.
And how it's loaded.
Now let's look at the five other vehicles that make up a Patriot battery and allow it to operate.
Source: CSIS
The electrical power plant, seen here, powers the Patriot defense system.
The engagement control station holds a bunch of computers that feed the battery information.
The commander of the battery is stationed and fed data in the battery command post.
The radar antenna detects incoming missiles.
And this is the antenna mast group, which works with the radar to track targets.
The Patriot is currently in service with 14 countries, including the US.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement