rjn@hpfcso.fc.hp.com (Bob Niland) (01/27/91)
From: Bob Niland <rjn@hpfcso.fc.hp.com>
re: Why can't the media draw these conclusions?
Why did the Patriots miss the first SCUD to arrive in Tel-Aviv after the
Pats were deployed? The following was pieced together from various news
reports and press briefings.
1. The US Pat battery was down due to generator problems.
2. The Pat that was fired was fired by an IDF (Israeli) battery.
3. The IDF does not have the latest (ABM) software for their Pats.
4. The IDF is not fully trained on Pat yet, in any case.
5. The Pat did not miss - it definitely hit the booster (which separates
after motor burnout), but may only have slightly damaged the warhead.
Why didn't Israel have the latest Pat software?
1. NIH: They didn't order it because it would have threatened continued
development of their own home-grown ABM system (not yet completed).
2. The ABM Pat is not fully qualified and released. Indeed, as of Aug'90,
the U.S. itself only had three (3) upgraded Patriot missiles in the
inventory. I suspect that software upgrades are happening at an
accelerated pace.
Regards, Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland Internet: rjn@FC.HP.COM 3404 East Harmony Road
UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcrjn!rjn Ft Collins CO 80525-9599