Airmen Prep for Patriot's Debut at Southwest Asian Base

SOUTHWEST ASIA --- Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing here are laying the groundwork to welcome more than 200 Soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas, as they set up a Patriot battery here for the first time.>> Airmen from more than a dozen units have been actively involved in myriad activities and projects to include preparing new dormitories, host-nation security, site selection, facility renovations and maintenance-pad development to name a few.>> The Patriot missile saw its first combat in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. The platform consists of phased array radar, an engagement control station, computers, power generators and up to eight launchers each holding four ready-to-fire missiles. The Patriot is capable of defeating both high-performance aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles. It is the only operational air-defense system that can shoot down attacking missiles.>> "It's a mutually-beneficial relationship. The Air Force gets the superior protection that only Patriot (missiles) can offer while the Army is able to bed-down on a premier-tactical site at an established base," said Lt. Col. Shane Capaldi, the 380th AEW chief of plans and programs.>> "We are committed to enhancing our warfighting capabilities here at the 380th. The Patriot battalion will fortify our security measures and further our defenses," said Brig. Gen. H. D. Polumbo Jr., the 380th AEW commander. "Our joint Airmen are on point to make sure our fellow warriors from the U.S. Army have the support and infrastructure needed to do their jobs.