Taiwanese GEM Destroy Two Surrogate Ballistic Missiles

Released on Wednesday, July 26, 2006

The Republic of China (ROC) successfully destroyed two surrogate ballistic missiles with the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System during the Han Kuang military exercises conducted near Ilan in the northeast region of Taiwan.

The successful firings, using Patriot Guidance Enhancement Missiles (GEM), reinforced the ROC air force's ability to conduct a live fire exercise in a tactical environment against a realistic threat.

The Taiwan military has an unblemished record of achievement in live fire exercises with the Patriot system. Taiwan was the first international Patriot customer to hold a tactical ballistic missile (TBM) live fire exercise outside the United States. In June 2001, the ROC military conducted two missions to test Patriot against a TBM target and an air breathing threat.

The missions were successful, with both targets destroyed by GEM missiles. In June 2004, the ROC military and Patriot successfully destroyed a surrogate ballistic missile target, again with GEM missiles. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems is the prime contractor for the Patriot system and the system integrator for the Configuration 2 and 3 systems that include the affordable GEM missile. The Patriot Air and Missile Defense System is the world's most advanced ground-based air defense system and is a cornerstone of the U.S. Army's integrated air defense system.

Patriot is a long-range, high-altitude, all-weather system designed to defeat advanced threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Combat proven during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, Patriot can simultaneously engage multiple targets under the most severe electronic countermeasure conditions.