On the afternoon of April 30, eight members conducted a study visit to the Aurora 23 exercise. The visit took place at the 61st Air Defense Battalion's 103rd Robot Company (Patriot) and was very informative and well conducted by the unit, led by the Regimental Commander Lv 6, Colonel Mikael Beck. What struck the participants most was the cutting-edge technology that the unit represents, and the great logistical challenge that the use of the unit faces, not least on the fuel side to power the large number of power plants in the unit.
The unit has two types of robot 103; robot 103 A and robot 103 B. Robot 103A (GEM-T) is the latest PAC 2 robot that is fast and has a long range. It is guided all the way to its target by the fire unit's radar on the ground and is used primarily against aircraft. Robot 103B (PAC-3 MSE) has its own radar seeker and is specially designed to combat TBMs (Tactical Ballistic Missiles).
Each fire unit consists of three carriages, a radar, a command post and has two types of missiles, 103 A and 103 B.
The 103 Patriot air defense system is to function as part of a larger network. It is equipped with a data link, Link 16, which allows aircraft, ships and ground vehicles to share tactical images and maps with very little delay. It can also send text messages, image information and speak over two different voice channels.
The air defense battalions will have two fire units with air defense system 103 (Patriot). The new system means that it is now possible to combat air targets at significantly longer distances than before. With the introduction of the Patriot system, Sweden now also has the opportunity to coordinate air defense with allies who have the same system.
The author is a lieutenant colonel and the academy's second secretary.
