LE BOURGET, France, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of China (ROC)
Army destroyed a tactical ballistic missile (TBM) target and a cruise missile
target during the first live firings of its Patriot Air and Missile Defense
System today at the Chiu Peng Test Range in the southern region of Taiwan.
The tests of the Patriot Advanced Capability Phase 2 (PAC-2) missile
system were conducted in two missions under operationally realistic and
stressing conditions from multiple launchers. The first mission was conducted
against a TBM surrogate target and the second against an MPQ 107 target drone
that simulated a cruise missile. According to ROC General Headquarters, both
missiles destroyed their intended targets.
The entire event was organized, managed and operated by ROC Army forces.
This was the first time Patriot has been fired in Southeast Asia, and the
first operational test of Patriot against a TBM target outside the U.S.
The tests demonstrated the ROC Army's operational readiness with Patriot
against a range of threats from TBMs to cruise missiles. According to
preliminary data, the missions were 100 percent successful with no anomalies.
A detailed analysis of the flight test data is under way.
The objective of the mission was to evaluate the effectiveness of the
training conducted for the ROC Patriot personnel and to validate the air
defense capability of the ROC Army. During both tests, the Patriot Fire Units
were manned and operated by ROC Army soldiers assigned to operational ROC
Patriot Fire Units. After the first test, the unit changed crews,
re-configured the system and destroyed the second target, all within
20 minutes.
"These firings confirm both the readiness of the ROC Army's Patriot Units
as well as the system's performance during these challenging missions," said
Bill Swanson, Raytheon Executive Vice President and President of Raytheon
Electronic Systems. "This important mission validates the Patriot as a key
component of the ROC's national defense system."
The contract between the ROC and Raytheon for the PAC-2 air and missile
defense system was initiated in 1994 under a direct commercial sale agreement.
According to the ROC, its Patriot Unit was initially fielded in 1996, and
became operational in 1998.
Patriot, the foundation of the U.S. Army's integrated Air Defense System,
is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather system fielded to defeat advanced
threats including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is a
global technology leader in defense, government and commercial electronics,
and business and special mission aircraft.
Contact:
Mark Day
In Paris: 06 16 23 73 98
After June 24: (310) 647-0784
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Mark Day of Raytheon Company, in Paris, 06 16
23 73 98, or after June 24, 310-647-0784
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