Patriot missile system (Generals)

	For other uses, see Patriot missile system.

Patriot Missile System
Structure
Faction	United States Malcolm Granger Leang
Role	Anti-armour/anti-air base defense
Armament	Patriot missiles
Properties
Hit points	1000
Armor type	Base Defense Armor
Production
Cost	$1000
Build time	0:25
Produced by	American construction dozer
Requires	Cold fusion reactor (USA/Granger) Chinese barracks (Leang)
Hot key	M
Combat
Ground attack	30 (Explosion)
Air attack	25 (Explosion)
Cooldown	250 (per missile) 2000 (per salvo)
Attack range	225 (vs. ground) 350 (vs. air)
Sight range	360
Function
Power	-3
Abilities	Detection

“

The Patriot Missile System is the base defensive unit of the USA side. Multiple units can be linked in a network to unleash targeted firepower on both land and air targets. The Patriots are weak against infantry, so protect your missile system with fortified infantry units. - Generals manual(src)

”

The Patriot missile system was the standard defensive structure for the USA.

Background

Each Patriot battery could fire a barrage of missiles at incoming enemies, with a short reload time between each attack. If one is constructed close to another battery, that battery can lock on to the other's target and fire its salvo to destroy it more quickly than it would alone. Patriot batteries could also shoot down incoming ballistic missiles, such as those launched from a SCUD launcher or a rogue Tomahawk launcher, although they were still not powerful enough to destroy those launched from a SCUD storm site or a nuclear missile silo.

As it fired missiles, retreating targets may still be destroyed post launch, as the missiles are guided and capable of propelling themselves a significant distance before running out of fuel. A minor downside of this feature was that there was a delay between launch and impact, in contrast to gunfire-based defenses which hit targets immediately upon firing ("hitscan", in game parlance).

The Patriot was effective against vehicles and aircraft, but it was not as effective against infantry, which were too small to hit accurately. While a lone infantryman could not possibly hope to gun down a Patriot and win, they could at the very least get past one and suffer little damage.

This weakness inspired the development of the fire base, which could be garrisoned by infantry of any type. Patriots had limited range, and enemy commanders employed artillery to take them out; therefore, they could not be relied upon entirely to protect a base.

General Leang is rumored to have access to this weapon. She uses it together with the Gattling cannon for defending her base.

Gameplay notes

Sometimes during gameplay, missiles can be fired from the battery at very long ranges. This is because the so called DataChain system simply increases range of the turret when activated. Therefore, Patriots can sometimes attack other enemies inside this increased range instead of what the DataChain aims at.

Trivia

• In reality, the MIM-104 Patriot missile system was solely built to engage aircraft and cruise missiles. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, some Patriot batteries were modified to engage SCUD missiles. Later versions of the Patriot have been purpose-built to engage both kinds of targets, and were again so used during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, the MIM-104 Patriot is a mobile launch platform, rather than a stationary battery like the system in-game. The real Patriot is solely an anti-air and anti-missile system. Nevertheless, there do exist real air defense missile systems with a ground attack mode that allows them to engage targets on the surface.

• The concept art depicts a Patriot that pops up from the ground, but in the final version it's always exposed. The Shockwave mod restores this underground version of the Patriot as an additional defensive structure of the Superweapon General.
• The Patriot has an unused cameo, that was likely for General Granger because his Patriot is the only unaltered version. This was also restored in the Shockwave mod as the cameo of Granger's Patriot missile system, which was reworked with a different design.

Changelog

• Generals sneak peek patch 1.02: stealth detection radius cut from 360-400 down to 200
• Zero Hour patch 1.03: fixed related unfinished building exploit

Gallery

• 

  Unused Patriot cameo (was likely designed to be used by General Granger)

• 

  Concept art

• 

  Alpha Build Patriot missile sytem

• 

  Alpha texture 1

• 

  Alpha texture 2

See also

• Laser defense turret, General Townes's version
• EMP Patriot system, General Alexis Alexander's version

General Leang Arsenal

Units Infantry Ranger Tank hunter Angry mob Hacker Pathfinder Burton Jarmen Kell Black Lotus Vehicles Construction dozer Supply truck Combat cycle Dragon tank Sentry drone Gatling tank Avenger Overlord tank Tomahawk launcher Rocket buggy Paladin tank Aircraft MiG Helix King Raptor Aurora Buildings Production Command center Cold fusion reactor Supply center Barracks War factory Air field Defenses Speaker tower Bunker Gatling cannon Nuclear missile silo Land mine Patriot missile system Tunnel network Particle cannon Scud storm Support powers & upgrades Support Powers Nuclear missile Particle cannon Scud storm Upgrades Radar upgrade Control rods Capture building Flash-bang grenades Chemical suits Chain guns Black napalm MiG armor Uranium shells Nuclear tanks Nationalism Subliminal messaging Neutron shells Sentry drone gun Advanced training Composite armour Arm the mob Armor-piercing rockets Buggy ammo General's Promotions Level 1 Paladin tank Pathfinder Cluster mines General's Promotions Level 3 Carpet bombing Artillery barrage level 1 Artillery barrage level 2 Artillery barrage level 3 Cash bounty level 1 Cash bounty level 2 Cash bounty level 3 General's Promotions Level 5 Electro-magnetic pulse Spectre gunship level 1 Sneak attack General Leang is not playable.