Introduction
Gulf War was the most significant military conflict since World War II, which not only provoked the formation of the largest military alliance but also was marked by the massive application of modern high-technology weapons. In this regard, the Patriot air defense missile system occupies a prominent place in the coalition’s victory in this conflict, serving as primary air defense equipment against Scud ballistic missiles. Nevertheless, debates still exist concerning the performance and feasibility of the Patriot system in the context of the Gulf War. This paper aims at examining the development of the US Patriot missile, its use in the given war, and its effectiveness.
The General Description of the System
Patriot was a direct child of the hot phase of the Cold War confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States and its allies. Initially shooting only down aircraft, Patriot received its anti-ballistic purpose only in 1986 after obtaining the PAC-1 software. During the Persian Gulf crisis, Patriot batteries were usually outfitted with PAC-1 and PAC-2 missiles (Schubert and Kraus, 2000). It is worth noting that Patriot became immensely complicated air defense artillery (ADA) due to electronically scanning radar that could track approximately 100 targets simultaneously. The system also included command and six to eight launchers that possessed four missiles. In addition, the battery was linked to the engagement control station, the functional center equipped with sophisticated, computer-based equipment, and an air-conditioned van. Altogether, the Patriot system could detect, track, search for, identify, engage, and terminate missiles without additional help.
Deployment in the War
The reason for the utilization of the Patriot missile in the Persian Gulf crisis was the coalition’s promise to defend Israel if it abstained from replying to the continuous Scud attacks by using Israeli jets. In particular, PAC-2 missiles shipped to the Persian Gulf to prevent military targets and protect civilian populations comprised 424 by January 1991, 159 of which were launched during the confrontation (Sherman, 2003). The central locations to cover Scud’s 600-kilometer range were Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and later Israel (Postol, 1991). The first portion of the Patriot batteries was in service with the 82d Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade in Saudi Arabia, but then protect the strategic targets were moved to operate with HAWK units. For instance, the HAWK batteries and three Patriot batteries are part of the 11th Brigade providing air defense for the XVIII Airborne Corps (Schubert and Kraus, 2000). Consequently, all Patriot units participating in the operation titled DESERT STORM were taken from the 11th Brigade and other similar US brigades. It is worth indicating that this was the first time in history when anti-tactical ballistic missiles countered hostile attacks.
Performance
The early estimates of the Patriot’s performance indicated its success and utility in the Gulf War. For example, according to Sherman (2003), the successful interception or at least engagement of hostile missiles comprised about 40 percent in Israel and 70 percent in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, these initial appraisals were overstated by the US Army. The main problem was that despite the interception of many incoming missiles, they produced debris and unexploded warheads, which resulted in substantial damage and casualties. However, considering that this was the first use of anti-tactical ballistic rockets in history, Patriot showed its relatively decent effectiveness. Moreover, the system provided psychological support for the land army and civilians, which contributed to the overall success in the Gulf War. Finally, the complex has paved the way for further, more accurate developments and improvements in the detection system of enemy missiles.
Conclusion
In summary, the paper has explored the development of the US Patriot missile, its use in the Gulf War, and its performance. Patriot is a highly complicated air defense system equipped with electronically scanning radar, command, and six to eight launchers, the management of which was executed from the engagement control station. Most batteries were formed in the 11th Brigade and located in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel. Patriot system demonstrated their relative effectiveness in the defense against hostile missiles, despite the need for further considerable improvement.
References
Postol, T. A. (1991-1992). Lessons of the Gulf War experience with Patriot.International Security, 16(3), 119-171. Web.
Schubert, F.N., & Kraus, T.L. (2000). The Whirlwind War: The United States Army in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.The US Army Center of Military History. Web.
Sherman, J. D. (2003). Patriot PAC-2 development and deployment in the Gulf War. Defense Acquisition University Alumni Association. Web.