The Patriot Missile System: The Persian Gulf War

Military forces deploy to vastly different environments across the globe. However, two of the most important discriminating factors which shape how operations are conducted are acceptance and protection of US forces by the local population. Operational environments are roughly sorted into two major categories. Permissive environments are locations where the host nation has control of its territory and supports US operations. Non-permissive environments refer to locations with hostile or uncertain local response. Although the weapon’s systems and sensors do not change from one location to the next, the environment surrounding a deployed Air Defense unit has a significant impact on how it is best operated. The Patriot and Avenger weapons systems clearly demonstrate the disparate considerations that must be taken for implementation of each asset when employed in a permissive and non-permissive environment respectively.

During the Vietnam War the M42 (Duster) tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) vehicle influenced the future versatility and capabilities of the Air Defense Artillery systems of today’s United States Army. This system put a lasting impression on the minds and confidence of the American Army Soldiers. These Soldiers actively participated in defending the South Vietnamese from the North Vietnamese and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong (or Vietnamese Communist). Not only did the M42 Duster (SPAAG) raise the moral and boost confidence with the American Soldiers, it instilled fear and discouraged the enemy from attacking positions that were fortified with versatile air defense systems. This

As a branch the air defense artillery is not well educated on its history. With this paper we will show that air defense artillery was vital asset for Korean and United States forces. We will also cover the history of coastal artillery along with a few early weapon systems and the minor changes made to them during the evolution of the air defense from the beginning leading up to the Korean War. In doing so we will highlight the weapon systems used by the United States during the Korean War. Our thesis in this paper is that the Korean War was one of the key points in the development of the air defense branch as a whole.

The incorporation of Patriot was a result of the confrontation with the Soviet Union. The Patriot system was instantaneously recognized in Desert Storm. Operation Desert Storm began on January 16, 1991. The conflict, better known as the Gulf War, was in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Desert Storm was a crucial battle where Air Defense had the opportunity to showcase its abilities.

There were many faults in US intelligence during Persian Gulf War I (Gulf War I) that carried over to the Persian Gulf War II (Gulf War II). A lack of a doctrinal foundation and existing structure by the Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Intelligence Group (SRIG) when aiding the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in Gulf War I severely hindered the ground operations during this war. Similarly in Gulf War II the army doctrine attempted to provide “a baseline for helping the commander visualise the information environment.” A plan to influence the information is then relayed to subordinates. This failed to prepare commanders to integrate IO (information operations) into their operations by repeating the same mistakes in Gulf War I. These faults

Operations Desert Shield/Storm took place during the Gulf War, which was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of more than 30 nations mandated by the United Nations, led by the United States commanded by General Norman Schwarzkopf, who conducted one of the greatest military campaigns of all times that resulted with the coalition victory. The name Operation Desert Shield was for the operation leading to the built up of troops and defense of Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Storm for the combat phase to liberate Kuwait. This war included more than 500.000 United States troops, dominated by technological superiority that definitely favored the coalition forces. The use of missiles, guided bombs and invisible plane made easy to destroy Iraqi ground targets, being so the first war in history to use the air power to defeat ground forces. The commander of this operation General Schwarzkopf was a consolidated leader with great experience in war and diplomacy, who had extend knowledge of the Middle East since the childhood. General Schwarzkopf ability to use the principles of mission command led the coalition into the desired end state, which was the defense of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait. General Norman Schwarzkopf successfully utilized mission command principles within Operation Desert Storm/Shield by creating a shared understanding, building cohesive teams through mutual trust, provide a clear commander’s intent, and accept a prudent risk, which played a

Though a disaster itself, the militaristic ways of our nation in the 1990’s was the final blow that America had to take. The most significant militaristic feat was the Persian Gulf War. Also known as Dessert Storm, the war started as an invasion from Iraq into Kuwait. After this

The Gulf War is often remembered as an easy victory by most Americans. Perceived as an intense military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory, and often referred to as a battle between good and evil. In reality, the U.S. military had a host of troubles in the conflicts of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Sheild which became known as the Gulf War of 1990-91, many of troubles were caused by the unnecessary deaths of allied troops, and the Iraqi civilians alike. Other catastrophes were avoided purely by luck or incompetence of the Iraqi Military. What new military strategies, procedures and technologies are now in place as a result of lessons learned. Hopefully to ensure that some of the worst mistakes that were made evident by the Gulf War will not be repeated in a subsequent war in Iraq or elsewhere. The intense reality of the actual battle fought by the United States and its allies against Iraq, left many a U.S. military spokesmen were scoffing at the Iraqi forces as “the fourth-largest army in the world.” And “the second-largest army in Iraq” by the world at the end of the Gulf War,

Our nation has been in conflict with the Middle East for over two and a half decades. Air Defense Artillery has made a huge impact in Middle East conflicts. The threats that make Air Defense Artillery a necessity for these conflicts include a number of aircraft, such as planes, jets and helicopters as well as launched munitions like scud missiles and mortars. Air Defense Artillery is an ever evolving force and has been there for protection of American forces against these threats. Air Defense Artillery is a group of weapons that divide the airspace into two different sectors. Short Range Air Defense, also known as SHORAD, defends against low altitude, short range aircraft and munitions. High to Medium Altitude Air Defense, also known

A huge part of the United States air defense strategy depended on early warning of an attack. The

Iran’s nuclear programme has in recent years worsened US-Iran relations. The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons (Bahgat , 2009). Other reasons for mistrust include USA’s support for Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980’s. Specifically, Iran continues to resent the US supplying Iraq with the chemical weapons it used during the war. Adding fuel to the fire, in 1988, US guided missile Cruiser the USS Vincennes on station in the Persian Gulf mistakenly shot down Iranian Airlines flight 655 killing 290. (Milinski, n.d.)

with a U.S. naval escort in the Persian Gulf led to clashes with Iran in 1987.

In August 1990, the CPT Joe D'Antona, started the command of B / 2-7 ADA in Dhahran air base, marking the beginning to the participation of the ADA in Operation Desert Storm (USC Army ROTC, nd). During the Operation Desert Storm, various changes were made to the Patriot system, including the development and updating of the system, alignment and construction of five hundred new missiles. ADA, had an active participation in Desert Storm, defending the activities of the divisions and defense of critical assets in Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The first, Army's Avenger Battery deployed during Desert Storm was 4-5 ADA / 1st Cavalry Division, being also one of the first units to lose a soldier under hostile

Thirtythree years ago President Ronald Reagan issued an astonishing reversal of America’s national security strategy. Rather than basing American security on the presumption that an attack by one superpower on the other would result in the unleashing of a catastrophic retaliatory strike, Reagan committed the United States to pursuing a strategy of defending against offensive missiles. The plan he set to action was the Strategic Defense Initiative(SDI) or “The Star Wars Plan.” This was a system of base ground units and orbital deployment platforms.

Persian Gulf War, also called Gulf War, (1990–91), international conflict that was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait with the apparent aim of acquiring that nation’s large oil reserves, canceling a large debt Iraq owed Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi power in the region1. The Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein claimed as a reason for the invasion a territorial dispute over the Shatt al-Arab, the waterway which forms the boundary between the two countries2. Saddam Hussein believed that Iran was in turmoil and that his forces could achieve quick victory3.