Converting Nike to Multiple Target and Multiple Missile capability?
“Anonymous” wished that Nike Hercules could be converted to Patriot like capabiility of attacking multiple targets at one time. I, Ed Thelen, responded: I have thought about this and cannot solve the following problems, that were solved using the Patriot style of system. • The Nike Target Tracking Radar can give the position of only one target at a time. • The Nike Missile Tracking Radar can give the position of only one missile at a time. (The post 1974 Nike digital computer could be made faster and reprogrammed to handle multiple targets and missiles at one time.) The Patriot system solves problems a) and b) above by using a less precise phased array radar to rapidly switch beam positions to give an approximate position of multiple targets and multiple Patriot missiles. Patriot solves the problem of less precise angular tracking by using radar type receiving equipment in the missile. The Patriot missile has radar receiving equipment and returns target angle position, *as observed by
