US successfully tests Patriot system
The US Army has successfully completed the first in a series of flight tests for the latest Post-Deployment Build 8 (PDB-8) upgrades to Raytheon's Patriot integrated air and missile defense system.
During the flight test, the PDB-8-configured Patriot battery was used by operators to detect and track a ballistic missile target. The operators successfully engaged the target with PAC-3 and GEM-T missiles. The process was then repeated, with the system successfully engaging a second ballistic missile target with two GEM-T missiles.
Additional flight and testing of the PDB-8 against a variety of targets will be conducted before the upgrade is phased into the Patriot inventory.
The PDB-8 upgrade aims to improve the Patriot's ability to differentiate between friendly and enemy aircraft, engage all categories of threats, and make Patriot easier for soldiers to operate. It also improves the Patriot's radar search and target detection and identification capability, features a redesigned fire solution computer to allow Patriot to utilise PAC-3 MSE missile capabilities, and an enhanced weapons control computer.
PDB-8 will also represent the first army fielding of two new major pieces of hardware: Modern Man Station (MMS), a user interface with colour LCD displays, touch screens and soft keys; and Radar Digital Processor (RDP), a ruggedised commercial off-the-shelf processor.
Ralph Acaba, vice president, integrated air and missile defense, Raytheon, said: ‘Because countries share in the investment of upgrades, Patriot is able to stay ahead of the continually evolving and improving threats we are seeing in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Like all other Patriot upgrades, PDB-8 can be retro-fitted into Patriot fire units around the world, and builds on the lessons learned from Patriot's more than 190 combat employments, 700 flight tests and 2,500-plus ground tests.’
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
-
![BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme]()
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
![Just Released: Space Technology Report]()
Just Released: Space Technology Report
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
-
![Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality]()
Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
-
![Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems]()
Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
-
![Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support]()
Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
