Patriot SAM poor performance

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by Isto

Why would the missile detonate close enough ?

Almost all AA missiles (air or ground launched) have a tiny radar detonator in them. They rarely actually hit their target, they just get "close enough" and explode sending shrapnel all over. Aircraft are, by necessity, fairly fragile targets.

Originally Posted by Isto

So they are going against direct orders, shouldnt that take them to military court on defying direct orders from their superiors ?

Can infantry do the same without being deserters ? Abandon their posts if an artillery barrage comes close enough, im sure that happens though.

Yes/No.

Yes they have a target/mission, BUT they're also entrusted with several hundreds, if not millions of dollars of aircraft their bosses REALLY expect them to bring home in once piece. The WW II Japanese did Kamikazes, no one else really thinks that's a good idea.