[Goose]

Some more on Patriot. Apparently conflicting information on whether Ukraine has the newer PAC3 hit to kill interceptors or the PAC2 explosive warhead interceptors.

https://kyivindependent.com/patriot-air-...n-ukraine/

Good article. Thanks for posting it!

I find it almost hilarious seeing a USAF General standing by a Patriot battery, as if he "likes" them. The three enemies the USAF fears more than the Chinese and Russians are 1) Naval air, 2) Army Air, and 3) Army SAMs. While this is intended as a joke, there is more than a bit of truth behind it. The army SAMs have never been much liked by the USAF because 1) they take away from the air force budget and 2) they imply the air force can't/won't protect the army from other air forces. That is one of the reasons the army started stressing anti-missile targets for the Patriot, because that is definitely one of their "assigned tasks" and the USAF couldn't argue they could do it "better". The fact it can still deal with "leakers" the USAF didn't get is a bonus that the army need not stress. NASAMS is of course a Norwegian system and not something the army actually wanted. I also have a bridge for sale.

Is it true that US Army operates over 50 Patriot batteries? If so I'd have to imagine we can spare more without significantly impacting readiness. The US proper would be a nightmare to attack via air, plus we have the air force. In terms of deployment, it's hard to imagine a deployment or multiple deployments that require that amount of air coverage. In the event of a chinese invasion of Taiwan, I imagine it would be extremely difficult to transport batteries to Taiwan and likely too late to make a major impact.

The US Army has about 60 Patriot batteries. The material condition of these batteries vary considerably. The number and types of missiles that equip each battery is obviously closely held, but AFAIK that also varies considerably. The Patriot has no role in defending the continental US. Many of the Patriot batteries are forward deployed in Europe and the middle east, where they protect the US military from attack by tactical ballistic and cruise missiles. The Army feels pretty strongly that they need to be where they are. That may not be correct, but getting such batteries released will be like pulling teeth. The Army has also Patriot batteries that will deploy with any large army formation sent to "foreign" destinations. These batteries are also considered essential, even though most of the time they are not in active "use". If the Army has to go fight, it wants to take them along.

Understandable, but it is indeed a decision the CIC and his assistants has to weigh. We have pried at least one battery loose. Probably we can get more, but how many is a judgement call. As the Israelis have figured out, it is necessary to have a very capable anti-missile system, but it also has to be affordable enough you can actually use it. Even they haven't got that one handled yet. We here in the USA aren't even trying very hard, which leaves us with hard choices instead. This is one of them.

[Goose]

Some more on Patriot. Apparently conflicting information on whether Ukraine has the newer PAC3 hit to kill interceptors or the PAC2 explosive warhead interceptors.

https://kyivindependent.com/patriot-air-...n-ukraine/

Good article. Thanks for posting it!

I find it almost hilarious seeing a USAF General standing by a Patriot battery, as if he "likes" them. The three enemies the USAF fears more than the Chinese and Russians are 1) Naval air, 2) Army Air, and 3) Army SAMs. While this is intended as a joke, there is more than a bit of truth behind it. The army SAMs have never been much liked by the USAF because 1) they take away from the air force budget and 2) they imply the air force can't/won't protect the army from other air forces. That is one of the reasons the army started stressing anti-missile targets for the Patriot, because that is definitely one of their "assigned tasks" and the USAF couldn't argue they could do it "better". The fact it can still deal with "leakers" the USAF didn't get is a bonus that the army need not stress. NASAMS is of course a Norwegian system and not something the army actually wanted. I also have a bridge for sale.

Is it true that US Army operates over 50 Patriot batteries? If so I'd have to imagine we can spare more without significantly impacting readiness. The US proper would be a nightmare to attack via air, plus we have the air force. In terms of deployment, it's hard to imagine a deployment or multiple deployments that require that amount of air coverage. In the event of a chinese invasion of Taiwan, I imagine it would be extremely difficult to transport batteries to Taiwan and likely too late to make a major impact.

The US Army has about 60 Patriot batteries. The material condition of these batteries vary considerably. The number and types of missiles that equip each battery is obviously closely held, but AFAIK that also varies considerably. The Patriot has no role in defending the continental US. Many of the Patriot batteries are forward deployed in Europe and the middle east, where they protect the US military from attack by tactical ballistic and cruise missiles. The Army feels pretty strongly that they need to be where they are. That may not be correct, but getting such batteries released will be like pulling teeth. The Army has also Patriot batteries that will deploy with any large army formation sent to "foreign" destinations. These batteries are also considered essential, even though most of the time they are not in active "use". If the Army has to go fight, it wants to take them along.

Understandable, but it is indeed a decision the CIC and his assistants has to weigh. We have pried at least one battery loose. Probably we can get more, but how many is a judgement call. As the Israelis have figured out, it is necessary to have a very capable anti-missile system, but it also has to be affordable enough you can actually use it. Even they haven't got that one handled yet. We here in the USA aren't even trying very hard, which leaves us with hard choices instead. This is one of them.