FY16 ARMY PROGRAMS

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

Executive Summary
• The Army completed the Patriot Post-Deployment Build-8
(PDB-8) Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) from
July 2015 to July 2016.
• The Army conducted four Patriot flight tests and two Army
Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) flight tests using
Patriot interceptors in FY16, achieving successful intercepts of
all targets: five short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) targets,
three cruise missile targets, and one fixed-wing aircraft target.
• The Army commenced the Patriot PDB-8 IOT&E in
September 2016. This testing will continue through August
2017.

System
• Patriot is a mobile air and missile defense system that
counters missile and aircraft threats. The newest version
of Patriot hardware and software under development is
PDB-8, which consists of improvements required to counter
the evolving threat, to improve combat identification and Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM) family (includes the
the Air Defense Interrogator Mode 5 Identification, Friend GEM-T and GEM-C interceptor variants intended to counter
or Foe (IFF) capability, to mitigate false tracks, to improve tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles), the PAC-3
electronic protection, and to further integrate Missile Segment (baseline), and the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI)
Enhancement (MSE) interceptor/ground system capabilities. variant.
• The system includes the following:
- C-band multi-function phased-array radars for detecting, Mission
tracking, classifying, identifying, and discriminating Combatant Commanders use the Patriot system to defend
targets and supporting the guidance functions deployed forces and critical assets from missile and aircraft
- Battalion and battery battle management elements attack and to defeat enemy surveillance air assets in all weather
- Communications Relay Groups and Antenna Mast Groups conditions and in natural and induced environments.
for communicating between battery and battalion assets
- A mix of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) hit-to-kill Major Contractors
interceptors and PAC-2 blast fragmentation warhead • Prime: Raytheon Company, Integrated Defense Systems –
interceptors for negating missile and aircraft threats Tewksbury, Massachusetts (ground system and PAC-2 and
• The newest version of the PAC-3 interceptor under prior generation interceptors)
development is the PAC-3 MSE. The MSE provides increased • PAC-3, PAC-3 CRI, and PAC-3 MSE Missiles: Lockheed
battlespace defense capabilities and improved lethality over Martin Corporation, Missile and Fire Control – Grand Prairie,
prior configuration Patriot interceptors. Texas
• Earlier versions of Patriot interceptors include the Patriot
Standard interceptor, the PAC-2 Anti-Tactical Missile, the

Activity
• The Army conducted the Patriot PDB-8 DT&E from July - In Flight Test P8-4 in December 2015, Patriot engaged an
2015 to July 2016 at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), SRBM target with two PAC-3 MSE interceptors.
New Mexico. The ground portion of this testing concluded in - In Flight Test P8-3 in March 2016, Patriot conducted a
October 2015, with developmental flight tests occurring later: mixed ripple engagement of an SRBM target with PAC-3
- In Flight Test P8-2 in November 2015, Patriot conducted a MSE and PAC-2 interceptors.
mixed ripple engagement of an SRBM target with PAC-3 - In Flight Test P8-1 in July 2016, Patriot engaged a cruise
CRI and PAC-2 GEM-T interceptors and then engaged a missile target with a PAC-2 GEM-T interceptor and then
second SRBM target with two PAC-2 GEM-T interceptors.
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engaged a maneuvering, full-scale, fixed-wing, air- performance against other threats. Patriot had some
breathing target with a PAC-3 MSE interceptor. The Army effectiveness shortfalls.
did not conduct this test in accordance with the DOT&E- - Patriot ground system reliability did not meet the threshold
approved Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), which requirement, but would have met it had the Patriot radar
stated that the fixed-wing aircraft would be employing achieved its allocated reliability goal.
electronic countermeasures while maneuvering. The Army - Patriot ground system maintainability did not meet the
has deferred testing of this capability to a Patriot PDB-8.1 threshold requirement.
flight test in 2020. - Patriot training remained inadequate to prepare operators
• The Army conducted two AIAMD flight tests at WSMR during for complex Patriot engagements. This was also true
FY16 using Patriot interceptors: during the PDB 6.5 and PDB-6 LUTs.
- In AIAMD Flight Test-1 (FT-1) in November 2015, Patriot - Patriot had some survivability and cybersecurity shortfalls.
engaged a cruise missile target with a PAC-3 interceptor. • The Patriot system met most of its test objectives during the
- In AIAMD FT-3 in April 2016, Patriot engaged an SRBM Patriot PDB-8 DT&E, but not all. During the ground test
target with one PAC-3 interceptor and conducted two portion using simulated interceptors and mostly simulated
separate PAC-2 GEM-T engagements against a cruise targets, Patriot did not always properly transmit messages;
missile target, with the first engagement resulting in a detect, classify, and discriminate targets; or select the preferred
missed intercept and the second engagement resulting in a interceptors against targets (e.g., Patriot would sometimes
successful intercept. incorrectly select a PAC-2 GEM against a fast tactical ballistic
• The Army conducted lethality testing of the PAC-3 MSE missile or a PAC-3 interceptor against a threat aircraft).
lethality enhancer titanium fragments against Composition - There were anomalies in the Patriot PDB-8 implementation
B explosive from July 2015 through June 2016 at Aberdeen of IFF, which led to over-interrogations and indicated
Proving Ground, Maryland, to update the lethality model degradation from the previously demonstrated PDB-7
that predicts when a high-explosive initiation occurs within a IFF capability. The Army updated the PDB-8 software to
warhead impacted by fragments. correct these problems and the fixes will be verified during
• The Army conducted all testing in accordance with the IOT&E.
DOT&E-approved TEMP and/or test plans, with the exception - Patriot PDB-8 Training Software sometimes generated
of the previously discussed P8-1 flight test and the PDB-8 spurious alerts and improperly displayed some scripted
flight test against an anti-radiation missile, which the Army targets.
deferred to a Patriot PDB-8.1 flight test in 2021 due to the lack - The Patriot system did not meet its reliability requirements
of an available target. during this test.
• The Army commenced the Patriot PDB-8 IOT&E in • During Flight Test P8-2, Patriot demonstrated the capability
September 2016 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The to detect, track, engage, intercept, and kill an SRBM target
IOT&E, which will include flight tests conducted at WSMR with a mixed ripple method of fire using PAC-3 CRI and
and the Reagan Test Site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall PAC-2 GEM-T interceptors and a second SRBM target with
Islands, will continue through August 2017. The IOT&E will two PAC-2 GEM-T interceptors. In both instances, the first
provide information to support the PAC-3 MSE Full-Rate interceptor in the ripple intercepted and killed the target at the
Production decision and the Army’s deployment of Patriot planned altitude, and performance of the ground system and
PDB-8. interceptor was nominal.
• The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act directs that the • During Flight Test P8-4, Patriot demonstrated the capability
Missile Defense Agency and the Army conduct at least one to detect, track, engage, intercept, and kill an SRBM target
intercept flight test each year that demonstrates interoperability with two PAC-3 MSE interceptors. The first PAC-3 MSE
and integration among the covered air and missile defense intercepted and killed the target at the planned altitude,
capabilities of the United States. In response to this act, Aegis and performance of the ground system and interceptor
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) will participate in Patriot’s was nominal, although some post-intercept ground system
final operational flight test in FY17 as a forward-based sensor. anomalies occurred that did not affect the mission objectives.
• During Flight Test P8-3, Patriot demonstrated the capability to
Assessment detect, track, engage, intercept, and kill an SRBM target with a
• Problems previously discovered during the PDB-7 Limited mixed ripple method of fire using a PAC-3 MSE and a PAC-2
User Test (LUT), if not corrected by the Army, could adversely GEM-T interceptor. The PAC-3 MSE (the first interceptor)
affect Patriot PDB-8 effectiveness, suitability, or survivability. intercepted and killed the target at the planned altitude and
These problems, the details of which can be found in both ground system and interceptor performance was generally
DOT&E’s classified April 2013 Patriot PDB-7 LUT report, nominal, although a Link-16 network initialization problem
include: prevented the demonstration of Patriot PDB-8 interoperability
- Patriot PDB-7 performance against some threats improved on Link-16 during this flight test. Other parts of the Patriot
compared to PDB-6.5, but there were degradations in PDB-8 DT&E demonstrated Link-16 interoperability.

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• During Flight Test P8-1, Patriot demonstrated the capability of different aircraft types, sensors, battle management
to detect, track, engage, intercept, and kill a low-radar cross elements, and weapons systems. Additionally, the Army
section cruise missile target at low altitude and in a clutter should conduct Red Team Adversarial Assessments during
environment with a PAC-2 GEM-T interceptor and, following joint exercises to test Patriot cybersecurity.
this, a maneuvering full-scale aircraft target with a PAC-3 2. Conduct a Patriot flight test against an anti-radiation missile
MSE interceptor. The interceptors killed both targets at the target to validate models and simulations.
planned ranges and altitudes, and performance of the ground 3. Improve Patriot training to ensure that Patriot operators are
system and interceptors were nominal for both engagements. prepared to use the system in combat.
Patriot demonstrated PDB-8 interoperability on Link-16 4. Have Patriot participate with live interceptors in Terminal
during this flight test. High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) flight testing to
• During AIAMD FT-1, Patriot demonstrated the capability to determine Patriot-to-THAAD interoperability and the
engage, intercept, and kill a low-altitude cruise missile target capability for Patriot to intercept tactical ballistic missile
with a PAC-3 interceptor based on remote Sentinel radar data targets that THAAD does not intercept.
sent through an AIAMD Battle Command System Engagement 5. Collect operational reliability data on Patriot systems in
Operations Center. the field so that the Mean Time Between Critical Mission
• During AIAMD FT-3, Patriot demonstrated the capability to Failure can be calculated.
detect, track, engage, intercept, and kill an SRBM target using 6. Use test units for future Patriot operational tests that
a PAC-3 interceptor and a cruise missile target with the second have operationally representative distributions in soldier
of two PAC-2 GEM-T interceptors after the first GEM-T proficiency.
missed. 7. Conduct future operational flight tests with unannounced
• The PAC-3 MSE lethality enhancer testing showed that the target launches within extended launch windows.
existing lethality model for titanium did not predict, within 8. Improve Patriot radar reliability.
10 percent of the observed critical velocities, when a high- • FY16 Recommendations. The Army should:
explosive initiation of a warhead would occur. The Army used 1. Conduct a simultaneous engagement of a cruise missile
these results to develop new coefficients for their lethality target with a PAC-2 GEM-T interceptor and a maneuvering
model that more accurately represent the PAC-3 MSE titanium full-scale fixed-wing aircraft target employing electronic
fragments. countermeasures with a PAC-3 MSE interceptor.
2. Have Patriot participate with live interceptors in Aegis
Recommendations BMD flight testing to determine Patriot-to-Aegis BMD
• Status of Previous Recommendations. The Army satisfactorily interoperability and the capability for Patriot to intercept
addressed 15 of the previous 23 recommendations. The Army ballistic missile targets that Aegis BMD does not intercept.
should continue to address the following recommendations:
1. Conduct Patriot air and missile defense testing during
joint and coalition exercises that include large numbers

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