The United States has successfully tested an upgraded PAC-3 MSE missile designed for the Patriot complex. She destroyed a tactical ballistic missile.
The American corporation Lockheed Martin at the test site in New Mexico successfully intercepted a ballistic missile using a new PAC-3 MSE designed for the Patriot system. During the tests, the regular operation of the new software and various components was confirmed.
14 countries decided to buy this missile, as well as the PAC-3 CRI variant. In the summer, the US State Department approved the sale of PAC-3 MSE systems to Kuwait. The amount of the agreement was $ 800 million.
M903 launcher with RAS-3 MSE missiles
Image source: Astrid Amtén Skage
Patriot is an anti-aircraft missile system that is in service with the United States and a number of allies. The system was created to replace the Nike-Hercules and Hawk complexes. It is a universal means of air defense of the positional areas of the troops.
The Patriot PAC-3 was tested in 1997 and adopted in 2001. According to open sources, the probability of hitting an aircraft in its case is 0.8-0.9. If we talk about tactical missiles, the risk of hitting is 0.6-0.8 (in the absence of interference, with the use of one missile). The maximum speed of intercepted targets is 1600 meters per second. As for the height of the defeat of ballistic targets, it is up to 15-20 kilometers.
Patriot air defense systems were actively used in various hot spots, in particular during the Persian Gulf War (1991), the Civil War in Syria and the Civil War in Yemen. Throughout the entire operation of the complex, there were active disputes about its effectiveness: it is known for sure that at least a significant part of the targets were intercepted in combat conditions.
Last year, the United States successfully tested the SM-3 Block IIA missile defense system. It hit a target that imitated an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The tests have become an important part of the US efforts to confront Russia and China.
SM-3 Launch
Image source: thedrive
In 2017, the United States tested the GBI (Ground Based Interceptor) anti-missile. Then, for the first time, it was able to make a kinetic interception of a target that imitated an ICBM. The tests were called Washington's response to North Korea's launches of new ballistic missiles. They were important from the point of view of the concept of a new generation of missile defense.
We also recall that last year the Russian Defense Ministry conducted tests of a new missile defense system and showed a video of the launch.
