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October 13, 2008
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Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| Basing: | Land |
Details
Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) is a surface-to-air guided missile defense system that builds upon the existing Patriot air defense infrastructure (used most notably during the Persian Gulf War in 1991). The new fully operational PAC-3 provides advanced capability against enemy cruise missiles, aircraft, and unlike previous systems, tactical ballistic missiles.
PAC-3 production began in late 1999 under a $143 million contract to Lockheed Martin and subcontractors Raytheon and Boeing. The first batch of 16 missiles was delivered to the U.S. Army in September 2001. The Army was initially authorized to manufacture 72 missiles per year, but in 2003 Congress increased PAC-3 production to 96 missiles. The Army plans to build an inventory of 1,159 interceptors.
In March 2003, the Army deployed PAC-3 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the war, Patriot interceptors engaged and eliminated two Iraqi missiles using hit-to-kill technology, meaning that the interceptors collided with the Iraqi missiles (like a bullet hitting a bullet), causing complete destruction. Despite its successes, the Army is still testing PAC-3 against larger and faster ballistic missiles.
The PAC-3 system consists of four main components: a radar, a command center, a launcher, and the interceptor missiles themselves. In a typical wartime scenario, the PAC-3 radar scans the skies with its overlapping beams, paying close attention to the horizon. Once a target has been detected, the radar immediately determines the speed, altitude, heading, and origin of the threat, and communicates this information via computer to the command center.
The command center, known as the Engagement Control Station (ECS), serves as the battle management, command, control, and communications center of PAC-3. Inside the ECS, the human operators view potential targets on the display screen, calculate fire missions, and send launch instructions to the mobile launchers. The operators play another important role: determining friend from foe.
The PAC-3 interceptor itself, 17.1 feet long and 10 inches in diameter, is an upgraded version of the Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2). The main difference lies in the kill mechanism: while the PAC-2 uses an exploding warhead to eliminate its targets, the PAC-3 is a hit-to-kill system and destroys its targets by the kinetic energy released in a head-on collision. Another difference is that the PAC-3 interceptors, enhanced by the advanced radar and command center, are capable of protecting an area approximately seven times greater than the original Patriot system.
The PAC-3 interceptors are mounted on mobile launchers. Each launcher can hold up to 16 interceptors in its launch canister, which doubles as a shipping container. In a deployment scenario, the launchers are arranged to provide overlapping coverage, allowing PAC-3 to respond rapidly to attacks from all directions.
Once PAC-3 has launched, the ground radar provides detailed tracking information as the interceptor streaks toward its target. Meanwhile, the interceptor’s own active seeker searches for the enemy missile. Once the active seeker acquires the target, its computer uses the locations of both the target and the Patriot missile to calculate the proper trajectory for the interceptor.
As the interceptor closes in on the target, the active seeker recalculates the trajectory and makes adjustments to the interceptor’s speed and direction. At the point of impact, the PAC-3 achieves catastrophic destruction of the incoming warhead, including any nuclear, chemical, or biological agents. The system is capable of targeting and destroying multiple targets while evading countermeasures and decoys.
On March 4, 2004, two PAC-3 missiles tracked and destroyed a large target missile at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Ranch in New Mexico. The method of using two PAC-3 missiles is known as “ripple firing.” The target missile, known as Patriot-As-A-Target (PAAT), had been modified to represent a short-range tactical ballistic missile and programmed to simulate the flight patterns of a Scud missile.
In February 2004, the Army awarded another production contract to Lockheed Martin worth $505 million for 159 PAC-3 missiles, including 22 missiles to replace those used in Iraq. Lockheed Martin will deliver the missiles by April 2006.
Sources
Army Technology.
The Boeing Company.
GlobalSecurity.org.
Liang, John. “Patriot PAC-3 Intercepts Target Missile in ‘Ripple Fire’ Test.” Inside Missile Defense, 17 March 2004.
Lockheed Martin Corporation.
“Lockheed Says Pac-3 Missile Test Successful.” Reuters News, 4 March 2004.
Missile Defense Agency, PAC-3 Description.
Missile Defense Agency, PAC-3 Press Release.
“PAC-3 Performs Intercept In White Sands Test.” Defense Daily, 5 March 2004.
Raytheon Company.
Sang-min, Joo. “U.S. To Deploy More Patriot Defense Missiles; Air Defense Brigade To Be Established To Control 8 Antimissile Batteries.” The Korea Herald, 1 May 2004.
“U.S. Army Order 100 PAC 3 Interceptors.” Forecast International Defense Intelligence Newsletters, 15 March 2004.
South Korea Revives Request for Patriot Interceptors
South Korea intends to buy Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against North Korea, reports the AFP. South Korea hopes to phase out its aging arsenal of Nike surface-to-air missiles beginning in 2006, replacing them with new Patriots purchased from either the U.S., or second-hand ones from Germany. In 2000, Seoul came close to buying 48 Patriots from the U.S., but ultimately cancelled the purchase.
The article does not specify whether Seoul intends to purchase the PAC-2 or the upgraded PAC-3.
» More stories on: Allies, South Korea
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2), Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
India Plans to Develop Indigenous Missile Defenses
India has declared that it plans to develop its own missile defense, reports the AFP. The article quotes Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, that “There is no question of accepting [a] missile shield from anyone. …What we are interested in is developing our own missile program and we are doing that.” Mukherjee’s comments follow last week’s signing of a 10-year joint defense agreement between the U.S. and India, and previous reports that Washington plans to sell (or has already sold) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors to New Delhi. Mukherjee did not mention the PAC-3 in his statement.
» June 29, 2005: AFP on U.S.-India defense agreement
» June 15, 2005: The Indian Express on PAC-3 sales to India
» More stories on: Allies, India
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Taiwan to Get BMD Radar
The U.S. Air Force will provide Taiwan with the Early Warning Surveillance Radar, reports Reuters. The high-tech system will allow Taiwan to detect and track long- and short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, surface ships, and enemy aircraft. Once completed, it will be integrated with missile warning centers, and potentially the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) anti-missile system, which the United States has offered to sell Taiwan. The Early Warning Surveillance Radar will cost approximately $752 million, and is scheduled for delivery to Taiwan in September 2009.
» More stories on: Allies, Taiwan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
U.S. to Discuss BMD Sales to India
Stephen Rademaker, U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control, told reporters on Thursday that the U.S. is willing to discuss supplying missile defense systems to India. The AFP quotes Rademaker, speaking from New Delhi, as saying, “We are willing to talk to India about missile defense. Missile defense is very expensive. So, it is not something that India will enter into lightly.” He urged New Delhi to spell out regulatory mechanisms for controlling exports of sensitive technologies. Rademaker’s comments coincide with reports that the U.S. has agreed to sell to India the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system.
On June 15 The Indian Express reported that the U.S. has already cleared the sale of PAC-3 anti-missile interceptors. The decision came on the eve of Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the U.S. this month, and represents a significant step toward closer military relations between the two countries. The PAC-3, unlike previous models, relies on hit-to-kill technology to eliminate short- and medium-range missiles.
» June 15, 2005: The Indian Express on PAC-3 sales to India
» More stories on: Allies, India
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Possible Role for Fighters in Missile Defense
The Missile Defense Agency and the Navy are studying means of defending ships against short range ballistic missiles, which includes a number a new basing options for previously ground-based interceptors such as THAAD and Patriot, reports the May 10 edition of Inside Missile Defense. A working group’s report, “Sea-Based Terminal Ballistic Missile Defense Assessment,” is said to be due in June.
The plan for a “sea-based terminal defense” considers the possibilities for development and fielding around 2010. Besides arming fighter aircraft with modified PAC-3 or even the longer range THAAD interceptors, “marinized” versions of both could plausibly also be placed on ships, according to various sources cited. The Aegis ship-based defenses would also likely be incorporated into any sea-based defense for ships.
The aircraft-launched versions would be of use for defense against ballistic or cruise missile attacks against our coast, provided of course the fighters were in the right place at the right time, within range of the missile: “In theory,” a source quoted said, “you could put two THAADs on an F-15.”
The reports are similar in concept to the jet fighter-based Anti-Satellite Weapons or Boost Phase Interceptors (BPI) discussed in previous years.
» More stories on: Air, Sea-Based Systems
» Missile system details for: Boost Phase Interceptor (BPI), Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Patriot Test Successful
Raytheon recently conducted a successful test of two Patriot GEM-T missiles at White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico. The test of the missiles had two interceptors target two low-flying target drones, both of which were destroyed. Raytheon is contracted to upgrade 376 current Patriot PAC-2 missiles to the more advanced “GEM-2” configuration, some 230 of which are already complete.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
PAC-3 Contract
Lockheed Martin reports the completion of a contract for the first international sales of the PAC-3 Patriot missile interceptors. The contract is to build 156 PAC-3 missiles and spare parts for the United States Army, The Netherlands, and Japan, and is worth $532 million dollars. Lockheed will deliver to The Netherlands some 32 interceptors, and Japan 16, by 2006. The sale of units of 16 is due to the fact that 16 interceptors load onto a single launcher. The older version, the PAC-2, carried only four missiles per launcher.
» More stories on: Policy
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Spain to Deploy 64 Patriot Interceptors
El Mundo reports that Spain will be deploying some sixty four American Patriot interceptors on their Mediterranean coast, in the southern provinces of Sevilla and Cadiz.
A statement by the Spanish government noted its responsibility to be able to “act against ballistic missiles, which have become one of the main and new threats against nation states.” The interceptors come from Germany, and are being sold for about 100 million euros.
The AFP notes that Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands already have some minimal level of missile defense technology—namely, Patriots. The purchase is significant, however, as it marks the gradual but increasing recognition by an increasing number of countries that the ballistic missile threat is real and growing. That the missiles are facing towards the Mediterranean is likely an indication of concern about missiles in the Middle East, in such states as Iran, whose Shahab missile is said to have recently acquired sufficient range to strike much of Europe.
» More stories on: Allies
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Deployment of Additional Patriot Interceptors in South Korea Complete
The 8th U.S. Army completed its deployment of PAC-3 interceptors in South Korea, with the last load of equipment arriving last week. The Patriot batteries have been deployed in the southwestern city of Gwangju, 300 kilometers from Seoul. There are a reportedly a total of some eight batteries in South Korea, six of which are the older PAC-1 or PAC-2 versions.
» More stories on: Allies, South Korea
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Japan to Produce Patriot Interceptors
The U.S. has agreed to permit Japan to begin production of the Patriot (PAC-3) interceptor which will form a part of Japan’s layered missile defense system. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is expected to begin building the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 in 2006, with a goal of deploying the land-based Patriot and sea-based missile defenses by 2008.
The limited range of the Patriot interceptor is more adequate for Japan than for the United States, given the proximity to North Korean missiles, the significantly reduced speed of a shorter range missile, and the smaller territory to defend. Japan will likely supplement the PAC-3 with some form of the Aegis sea-based system, with the Standard Missile-3 and with a newer version.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
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