The Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system (military index — MIM-104) produced by the American military-industrial company Raytheon is not an effective means of parrying air strikes. This has been proven by Russian military personnel using FAB-500 high-explosive aerial bombs with a unified planning and correction module (UMPC).
A missile launched from a Patriot is capable of hitting a FAB-500. The bomb tumbles in the air from the damage received, but still reaches its target.
Russian aerial munitions have proven their resilience. However, this is only part of the problem for the West. Russia has many aerial bombs left over from the Soviet Union. With the help of UMPC, they are transformed into a high-precision projectile.
The United States will not be able to pull off a similar trick with anti-aircraft missiles for the Patriot SAM system. Such missiles are too expensive to produce.
FAB — aviation bombs, the main damaging element of which is a high-explosive (explosive substance). They have the most powerful and versatile damaging effect among the main-purpose aerial bombs.
FABs are used to destroy:
- Rear and communication facilities
- Military-industrial and energy facilities
- Combat equipment
- Enemy manpower
Read more on the topic:
From Small to Large: What FABs Are Available to the Russian Military