Sandman

What would a comparable Russian weapon be? An ABM or SA-12? How about Sprint and Spartan? What is the speed and range of THAAD? How does it rate? It seems to be performing well lately. Is it meant for defending US contenintal cities from ICBMs in their terminal phase?

-{SpoonmaN}-

While I'm sure it could be used to defend CONUS like any other AD weapon, I think the primary role of the THAAD will be in defending US Expeditionary Forces from hostile missile attack.

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Wraith601

One of the big selling points was that it was C-17 transportable and can be ready to fire in a something like 30 mins after landing.

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Sandman

That is all and good, but would not a more important issue be to protect those west coast citied that North Korea, and China and even Russia hold at risk? Is there any, or much consideration to protect AMERICAN lives at home?

highsea

That's why we have sea-based Aegis BMD, interceptors in Japan, GBI in Alaska and California...

NMD is still in it's early stages. We have a long way yet to go.

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Wraith601

Not to mention ABL.

THAAD is only one of many possible systems under development.

-{SpoonmaN}-

Very handy indeed. What's the Patriot's usual readiness time again?

Wraith601

The Patriot can be brought to ready to fire state from movement posture in about 45 mins, not sure how that time changes after an airlift though.

urmomma158

That's pretty slow,I wonder why they never made a fully mobile variant of the PATRIOT instead of the semi mobile version they have now.

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Wraith601

The PAC-2 missile is 5.31 meters long and weighs 900 kgs, it's hard to make a launcher and all the associated support equipment for a missile that big very mobile.

urmomma158

The russians managae to do it with the S300's. They can shoot and scoot in about 5 minutes. I think germany operates mobile PATRIOT launchers i've seen some pics of em online.

highsea

Yeah, if they want to leave a bunch of crap behind, lol.

It would take longer than that just to disconnect the cables, lower the launcher and radar, get everything secured for travel, etc. I would imagine that there are ground jacks for stability, etc to get in place too.

This emphasis on how fast can they set up and break down is a way overblown imo. I'm sure it takes a lot longer to actually do in practice than is claimed in the brochures.

urmomma158

Guess you're right that's under optimal conditions. I think I'd give it about 15 minutes but that's just a guess. Their mobility is severly impaired if they have their radar masts deployed and without those their horizon is impaired.