Anti-Missile Missile system

[LazyGun]

During the 1st Gulf War, much was made of an american made antimissile missile system that was deployed in Israel to stop the Scuds.
Can anyone remember what this system was called, and is it ineffective against the type of missiles currently being used by Hezbollah?

[hallj1]

The system was called 'Patriot' but I've heard no more about it since the Gulf War 1.Maybe it would be inneffective because the Hezbollah missiles are short range and relatively low flying so unable to lock on radar long enough.

[bimbim]

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/patrio t/

[brachiopod]

Were Patriots actually not that successful against SCUD's?

I thought that due to a couple of 'lucky hits', its capabilities were grossly exaggerated at the time?

[kempie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_missile#S uccess_rate_vs._accuracy

[Toureman]

The patriot missiles were just propaganda to stop the Isralis joining in the Gulf war, they were actually deployed and fired but were inaffective

They are working properly now though, they were not designed to destroy the type of small short range missiles used by Hezbollah.

[Loosehead]

Toureman is correct, I think they got a couple of hits but it was mainly to pander to Israeli public opinion to stop the Israeli government retaliating and sparking what Saddam was trying to acheive, effectively to drag Israel and Islam into a holy war. The Israeli governement wanted to go along with the US but needed some help resisting public opinion the patriot served that purpose. I belive they are much much better now.

[LazyGun]

Thanks to all of you for your responses.

[jedimistress]

Toureman is correct. The Israelis have the 4th biggest nuclear arenal in the world and are more than well equiped given their constant funding.

[funkymoped]

the "patriot" isnt designed to score a direct hit on an incoming missile. the theory is that computers find, track and determine how sucessful a launch would be.
if the incoming missile were to be selected as a possable kill, the patriot system would launch a missile from its own battery.
this weapon would fly on a collision course and explode a fraction of a second before any impact... the patriot exploding would (in theory) destroy or divert the path of the incoming weapon.
it was used against aircraft in one of the Gulf wars. at least one British Tornado was lost to the patriot system, with the loss of both air men..

i think its design was primeraly for high flying weapons, not hand held or truck launched low altitude missiles.