Air defenders from Charlie Battery, 1-1 ADA BN and Air Force personnel pose in front of F-35 aircraft that were used as part of the Patriot live-fire exercise during Valiant Shield 22. The target traveled out to sea on a southeast track, then executed a 180-degree turn and flew towards the airport from the southeast. At this point, two PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missiles engaged the target in salvo mode, with the second Patriot launching three seconds after the first. The interceptor missiles engaged the target approximately 35km off the coast of Palau at an altitude of 10,000 feet and spe
Air defenders from Charlie Battery, 1-1 ADA BN and Air Force personnel pose in front of F-35 aircraft that were used as part of the Patriot live-fire exercise during Valiant Shield 22. The target traveled out to sea on a southeast track, then executed a 180-degree turn and flew towards the airport from the southeast. At this point, two PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missiles engaged the target in salvo mode, with the second Patriot launching three seconds after the first. The interceptor missiles engaged the target approximately 35km off the coast of Palau at an altitude of 10,000 feet and speed of 350 knots; the first interceptor successfully destroyed the target, and the second interceptor adjusted course to target the largest piece of debris from the first intercept. The Patriot system is already a combat-proven system, but this exercise saw the first operational use of a new capability to target and engage threats using radar data from a Air Force F-35A aircraft. The ability to extend the range that Patriot can detect and engage UASs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles provides an entirely new capability to the joint force and further increases our ability to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific. Army Photo by Maj. Trevor Wild.
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Photo credit: © Operation 2022 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: cruise, exercise, live-fire, missile, patriot, valiantshield
