SAM Patriot in Ukraine: composition of deliveries and combat capabilities
Slide from PEO MS presentation. Photo Telegram / BMPD
A few months ago, foreign patrons and partners began supplying the Kyiv regime with American-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. It is known about the delivery of several batteries, including various means and missiles of several types. More detailed information about the composition of the transferred air defense systems has recently appeared. This information allows us to determine the characteristics and potential of the Ukrainian "Patriots".
Help packages
After long discussions and resolution of organizational issues, in April 2023, the United States and NATO countries handed over to the Kyiv regime two batteries of Patriot air defense systems, including all the necessary components and means. The delivery of new sets of this kind is planned. In addition, the Pentagon has included additional Patriot missiles on several occasions in recent military aid packages.
With all this, the details of such deliveries were not disclosed. In particular, the exact list of transferred products and funds, as well as their number, was not reported. The reasons for this are simple - such information can be used by the enemy to more effectively counter and / or destroy air defense systems.
Launcher "Patriot" in Ukraine. Photo by Thedrive.com
However, information about the composition of the supplies still got into the public domain. On August 8-10, the annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium was held in Huntsville, USA, dedicated to the issues of anti-missile and anti-space defense. One of the reports at this event was presented by the Pentagon's Program Executive Office Missiles and Space. It touched upon the topic of the supply of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
The department listed the products supplied to the Kyiv regime since last year, incl. complexes "Patriot". At the same time, for the first time, a list of transferred funds from their composition was disclosed.
Batteries supplied include AN/MSQ-104 Engagement Control Station (ECS) command posts, AN/MPQ-65 radars, M902/903 launchers, and EPP-III Diesel-Electric Power Plant (EPP). The PAC-2 modification missiles in the GEM, GEM-C and GEM-T versions, as well as the newer PAC-3 versions of the MSE, were transferred. In addition, the necessary spare parts, etc. are attached to the complexes.
PEO MS named the types of products shipped, but did not disclose the volume of such shipments. However, knowing the number of transferred batteries, it is possible to determine the number of ground facilities of the complexes. So, a typical Patriot battery includes one KP and one radar, as well as up to eight launchers and various means of support. Ukraine has already received two batteries - they had two command posts and radars each, as well as up to 16 launchers. At the same time, some of these funds have already been destroyed by Russian strikes.
Combat work "Patriot" in Kyiv. Photo Telegram / BMPD
The situation with missiles is different. Now the types and modifications of these products are known, but open sources do not even allow approximately determining their number. Apparently, three-digit numbers of missiles were delivered within several packages.
Technical potential
The declared performance characteristics and combat capabilities of the Patriot air defense system are well known. The available information allows us to imagine what tasks such systems, set and deployed in Ukraine, can solve. At the same time, it is possible to evaluate both their own potential and their capabilities when interacting with other means of intelligence and control.
The AN / MSQ-104 ECS Patriot command post controls the complex / battery and performs several basic tasks. It receives data on the air situation and targets from the standard radar of the complex or from third-party sources. ECS processes incoming information, accompanies targets, recognizes them and distributes them according to the degree of danger. The command post also distributes air targets between launchers and missiles, controls the launch, etc.
One of the MIM-104 missiles that fell on Kyiv. Photo Telegram / BMPD
The Patriot of various modifications included several types of radars with different characteristics. The Kyiv regime was given AN / MPQ-65 products. This is a towed radar designed for long-term operation in one position. The station has a passive phased array with electronic scanning that monitors the situation in a sector 90° wide in azimuth and from +1° to +83° in elevation. For a circular view of the terrain, four such radars are required.
AN / MPQ-65 is capable of detecting large air targets at ranges up to 180-200 km, tactical Aviation - up to 130-150 km. Ballistic targets, such as the warheads of operational-tactical missiles, are tracked from a range of approx. 70 km. The maximum target speed is more than 2 km / s, up to 125 targets are tracked simultaneously.
The Patriot battery includes up to eight M901 / 902 / 903 type launchers based on semi-trailers. Four or more transport and launch containers are mounted on the installation, depending on the type of missiles. The launch is made from an inclined position with a turn towards the target. Mechanisms allow you to rotate the installation by 110 ° to the right and left of the longitudinal axis.
Missile complex
MIM-104 PAC-2 missiles in GEM (Guidance Enhanced Missile) modifications were sent to Ukraine. These products were developed in the nineties and two thousandths using modern technologies at that time and the accumulated experience of combat use. They differ from previous MIM-104 missiles with updated electronics and improved combat capabilities. In addition, flight and combat performance gradually increased. With all this, the overall appearance of the missiles did not fundamentally change.
SAM Patriot PAC-2 in the process of deployment. Photo by the US Department of Defense
The MIM-104D GEM is approx. 5,3 m and diameter 410 mm; weight - approx. 910 kg. A high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 91 kg is used. The GEM family differs from previous missiles in an improved semi-active homing head, optimized for hitting ballistic targets. Also updated proximity fuse. The firing range for aerodynamic targets remained at the level of 105 km, for ballistic targets - 20 km.
The Kiev regime also received the MIM-104E GEM + SAM in the GEM-C and GEM-T versions. They represent a further development of the MIM-104D with other homing heads. So, a product with the letter “C” received a semi-active radar seeker with increased sensitivity and noise immunity, capable of more effectively detecting and tracking cruise missiles and other complex targets. The GEM-T missile, in turn, is designed to hit ballistic targets. The performance characteristics of GEM + remained at the level of previous products.
The transfer of MIM-104F PAC-3 missiles, designed only to intercept ballistic targets, is reported. The PAC-3 is smaller, approx. 5 m and a diameter of 254 mm, thanks to which the container of standard sizes can accommodate four missiles at once. Weight - 316 kg. To improve maneuverability, a block of small-sized engines is placed in the head of the hull. The missile has an active radar seeker and is designed for a direct hit on the target. The defeat is carried out by a 24-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead with ready-made submunitions. Launch range - 20 km, altitude - up to 20 km.
Radar AN / MPQ-65. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
The upgraded PAC-3 MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement) missile was developed in the 104s. It is slightly longer than the base MIM-290F, the case diameter has increased to 100 mm. Due to this, it was possible to use a new dual-mode engine, which allows attacking aerodynamic targets at ranges of 30 km or ballistic targets from 36 km. The maximum interception height is XNUMX km. The principles of targeting and hitting the target have not changed.
Bottom line
According to the developers and manufacturers, the Patriot air defense system in various modifications is capable of detecting and hitting aerodynamic and ballistic targets in a wide range of ranges and heights. The system was repeatedly upgraded, as a result of which its technical and combat characteristics increased, as well as new modes and capabilities appeared.
In the course of the current hostilities in Ukraine, the American Patriot got the opportunity to demonstrate its potential in combating advanced aerospace forces. The Kiev regime and its foreign partners expected that even two batteries of such complexes would be able to cover important objects from Russian aircraft, missiles and UAVs. However, imported products did not live up to expectations and did not cope with the tasks.
Mobile diesel power plant EPP. Photo by the US Department of Defense
In practice, Patriot air defense systems, covering the Kyiv region, could not prevent regular strikes using cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as drones. Moreover, one of the "Daggers" was intended for the deployed "Patriot" and successfully destroyed it. With all this, American-made anti-aircraft missiles regularly fell on civilian infrastructure and caused damage.
Such results of the use of American air defense systems in Ukraine can be explained by several factors. This may be a low level of preparation of calculations and illiterate placement of positions that interfere with normal use. It will not be possible to refer to the moral obsolescence of the delivered command posts, radars or missiles - even the newest products were transferred.
However, the decisive factor that predetermined the further development of events was the strike capabilities of the Russian armed forces. The Patriot air defense system is the main model of its class in the US Army. Therefore, the Russian defense industry has always considered it as a typical threat and target for strikes. A variety of strike systems for the army, air force, etc. were developed taking into account the presence of such systems in a potential adversary. All changes and improvements to the Patriot were also taken into account and appropriate measures were taken.
PAC-3 rocket launch. Photo by the US Department of Defense
As a result, our armed forces have a wide range of strike assets and systems capable of breaking through US-style air defenses and hitting designated targets. As the latter, as practice has shown, foreign air defense systems can also act.
Unsatisfactory grade
The United States and its allies are trying to restore Ukrainian air defense, and are now using modern NATO-style systems and complexes for this. So, a few months ago, the Patriot air defense system was handed over to the Kyiv regime. As is now known, products and components of different generations were supplied, including the newest ones. However, they did not live up to expectations, and one of the complexes could not even protect itself.
Thus, the advertised "Patriot" in its current form did not cope with the task of countering a developed enemy. Now the United States will have to refine and improve their main air defense system again, taking into account the new negative experience. The Russian armed forces, in turn, will be able to continue measures to demilitarize Ukraine without significant interference from its air defense.
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