This is the best I can find, considering Patriot is a very complex system. It take a whole slew of soldiers to set this stuff up and operate it. If I tried sifting something that in-depth, you would probably * Ban me;) I work at the Battalion Level, monitoring the air picture and directing fire units what to do and when.

Oh and take a look at the screen at 1:00. Yeah, black and green. From the early 80's and we still use it. That is actually a VERY small portion of what we call a "scope", as most of it is classified. If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask.

i saw a video back in 2004 that criticised the Patriot system for being far less effective than advertised - just how accurate are this things?

I would like to see this video. If you have a link for me I would much appreciate it. I'll put it to you like this: Back in the Gulf War, our PATRIOT crews shot down some scuds because they had no choice. The System was not designed to do that back in those days, nor were the missile guidance packages. They successfully engaged and destroyed them though. That would be a pretty good indication of their accuracy. Especially now, considering the system is designed to do it.

Whats the PAC system total coverage area?
How many incoming targets can a single PAC handle?
How does the PAC differential between Friend or Foe?
What is the tracking system used on the PAC for enemy targets?

I remember watching the docs about the role of the patriot during the gulf war and the military guys were saying that not one managed to destroy a scud. In fairness, they said it was never designed to intercept missiles, it was a carefully planned PR move to reassure the Israelis and encourage them to stay out of the war.

CBC had one of the docs about it on "The Fifth Estate" (from their website):
"THE CAN'T MISS MISSILE
It was touted as the best defence money could buy against Iraqi Scuds and other deadly missiles. But as the fifth estate's Bob McKeown demonstrated on our February 5 programme, the Patriot missile turned out to be a bust in 1991. And now in the early days of the war in Iraq, it seems as if the Patriot has revealed one more fatal shortcoming. It is having trouble telling the difference between friend and foe. A whole new take on a cautionary tale about military hardware and military obfuscation."

Ok first you have to understand, I can't give you specific answers on some questions, as it is classified, and my career frankly isn't worth it. As far as the missing the Scud. well, I can show you the actual scud that was shot down in the early days.

PAC System... Call It patriot. PAC stands for PATRIOT Advanced Capability and is nothing more than a "version" of Patriot.

I cant tell you its coverage, but believe me when I say its nothing to laugh at.
A single Patriot Firing Battery (usually 8 launcher) can handle allot of tracks. (again can't give you exact numbers, sorry)
Our system differentiates between different kinds of track in a few different ways. Primarily we use IFF. Some tracks, like missiles, are judged and evaluated based on their flight path. For example, Moodonia, the British pilot who was shot down by PATRIOT. That guy is a winner of a Darwin Award and heres why. ALLLLLL friendly forces are briefed as to how to fly, how to approach certain areas where these areas are etc, and with blatant disregard to these briefings, he pulled a hot head stunt jockey move and while heading RIGHT AT a PATRIOT unit, he pulled into a sharp dive and accelerated, causing the system to register him as an ANTI Radiation Missile. For PATRIOT, who uses a giant radar, this was bad. The system automatically engaged in self defense. SO in essence it is proof that out system works. Ill be back to answer more later, I have to go to work.

i don't remember the name of the programme let alone the link to the video in question any more but as moodonia pointed out it was said to be far less efficient than advertised - at least back in the first gulf war. but that was more than 15 years ago, maybe the later versions evolved past their shortcomings, you'd know that better than anyone here

just wondering if these babies really can perform, i guess. and, being expensive as they are, do you get to practice on "live targets", blowing up UAVs? or how ever that goes, some guy with an RC model...

We actually shoot one patriot down with another. How badass is that? But yes we do shoot down target Simulators from time to time.

The name amuses me. Next up, the "Fear of God"-cannon.

*dead

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