Patriot Missile Launches during Palau Live-Fire Exercise [Image 3 of 8]

PALAU

06.15.2022

Photo by Maj. Nicholas Chopp 

94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

A PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missile is launched at a Kratos Defense Firejet cruise missile surrogate target during the Patriot live-fire exercise as part of Valiant Shield 22. Air defenders from Charlie Battery, 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion successfully intercepted the target at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time. The target traveled out to sea on a southeast track, then executed a 180-degree turn and flew towards the airport from the southeast. At this point, two PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missiles engaged the target in salvo mode, with the second Patriot launching three seconds after the first. The interceptor missiles engaged the target approximately 35km off the coast of Palau at an altitude of 10,000 feet and speed of 350 knots; the first interceptor successfully destroyed the target, and the second interceptor adjusted course to target the largest piece of debris from the first intercept.

The Patriot system is already a combat-proven system, but this exercise saw the first operational use of a new capability to target and engage threats using radar data from a U.S. Air Force F-35A aircraft. The ability to extend the range that Patriot can detect and engage UASs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles provides an entirely new capability to the joint force and further increases our ability to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific.

• Date Taken: 06.15.2022
• Date Posted: 06.16.2022 04:06
• Photo ID: 7275187
• VIRIN: 220615-A-UB904-1003
• Resolution: 6720x4480
• Size: 10.32 MB
• Location: PW