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To: buwaya
Patriot has several available interceptors. It can engage several target types and is considered an area air defense system, and is “point defense” limited only in the case of high speed ballistic missiles or similar.

There are open source documents regarding PAC-3 ballistic missile area defense coverage. In general, a 15 KM circle is the defense area for ballistic missiles, or apprx 175 sq KM. Not nearly enough to defend a city the size of Kyiv, but calling it "point defense" is quite a stretch.

The PAC-2 increases that coverage by a large margin, but even with PAC-2 GEM/T, the Kinzhal is possibly beyond PAC-2 capability.

32 posted on 05/18/2023 11:29:34 AM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: ETCM

Latest variant for ballistic missiles, like the Khinzal, is 19 miles or greater.

The Patriot has shot down maybe 6 or more Khinzals so it is quite capable - as long as you disregard the Russian hype.


33 posted on 05/18/2023 11:42:20 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: ETCM

Hence I said “point defense” in quotes.
The point (hah!) is that its ABM capabilities are for a very restricted area vis a vis its antiair abilities.

Given that, comprehensive anti-hypersonic defense for all likely targets in Ukraine is going to require quite a lot of Patriot systems.

Fortunately, given the rather few hypersonic/ballistic missiles Russia seems able to come up with, this isnt a huge issue.


37 posted on 05/18/2023 12:04:08 PM PDT by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
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