Anti-aircraft missile system Patriot PAC-3

The ERINT anti-missile is a single-stage solid fuel projectile made according to the normal aerodynamic scheme with small elongation wings and aerodynamic aileron rudders.

After launch, the missile, using an inertial guidance system, moves to the target acquisition point of the missile's active homing head. In this phase of the flight, aerodynamic rudders are used to control the missile, which also give the missile rotation relative to the longitudinal axis at a speed of 30 rpm. During the flight, the position of the target is continuously verified by ground-based means and corresponding correction signals are generated and transmitted to the missile. Before the active radar head captures the target, the nose fairing is reset and the radar antenna is pointed at the centre of the space occupied by the target. After capturing, the missile's rotation speed is increased to 180 rpm and its flight is further controlled by switching on small nose motors.

The main role of the ERINT rocket is to "reach" the upper boundary of the TBR and OTBR missed by one single (possibly paired) firing, without having to restart to analyze the results of the first firing due to the lack of space and time capabilities. Hence, the main task of ERINT SAM in the TVD missile defense system being created is destruction of a ballistic missile with various warheads with a high probability of combat load. This task is solved by high-precision guidance and kinetic defeat of the TBR as a result of direct hitting the combat load compartment at altitudes up to 15 km.

Limiting the maximum height of the kinetic defeat of the TBR to 15-20 kilometers allows the SAM to realize rather high aerodynamic overloads at an angle of attack of 10...14°. High precision guidance and direct hit in the warhead compartment are provided by a combination of accurate target information (due to the use of an active radar homing head of the millimeter range of waves, creating a "profile" of the target with the definition of the point of aim - the compartment of the combat load) and extremely short reaction time of the missile when working out the control commands (due to the use of torque gas-dynamic control).

In order to implement the torque gas-dynamic control, the ERINT rocket has an impulse propulsion system (IMU) installed in front of the mass center, which consists of 180 radially located single pulse microRTT (10 rings of 18 engines). With a total weight of 21.6 kg, the IMU is equipped with a fuel charge weighing 3.852 kg, which is 365 mm long and 255 mm in diameter.

During operation of the impulse engines located in the nose section of the rocket, the impact of their transversely flowing jets on the aerodynamic rudders located in the tail section leads to the appearance of significant disturbing moments. In particular, in this regard, in the homing area, where the IMU micro-DTT works, the rocket is given a forced rotation on the roll at a speed of 3 r / s, and the tail rudders are used only as ailerons. (The rotation of the rocket also promotes more economical use of micro-motors.)

Due to its much smaller size, the ERINT missile is housed in 16 pieces as part of the existing M901 launchers, with four missiles in each MIM-104 SAM container (see photos 1, 2, 3, 4). In order to maximize the capabilities of the Patriot RAS-3 SAM system, it is planned to combine the launchers with MIM-104 and ERINT missiles, which will increase the firepower of the battery by 75%.