Some of these responses are really kinda funny.
I think it is fairly clear that the Soviets stole Patriot seeker technology. I also think that it goes without saying that this technology was
probably in "paper" format, or perhaps computer disks - no one actually believes that any actual Patriot seekers were stolen. Those things are
kinda hard to miss once they get up and walk away, you know.
I also think its fair to say that the Russians were not the only people either stealing Patriot seeker technology, or peddling it in underground,
back-alley channels to high bidders, or to those who were owed political favors. The simple fact is that the Patriot seeker technology, including the
TVM technique, was "next generation" (I wouldn't necessarily call it "revolutionary") and was desired by more that just a few countries for their
own systems.
There is no doubt that the TVM technique is a US invention (specifically Raytheon Co.). I was once told, while working at Raytheon, that Raytheon had
applied for a classified patent on the technique, but was denied because the technology was developed under the funding of a government contract and
was, therefore, the property of the government. This original seeker technology was first worked on in a highly-classified program during the Vietnam
War days. Existance of the TVM technique did not become public knowledge until the Pentagon began to take a hard look at the program cost(then called
SAM-D). See the following
link for Redstone Arsenal for more details on the
complete Patriot history. It was also during this timeframe that I was told about the problems with theft and espionage in the Patriot program in the
(distant) past. This was related to me at the time by the actual Patriot Program Manager, Mr. Walter Putis.
Take it for what it's worth. It old news, really. Nothing left to be said. The Grumble is a fine system - a real competitor to the Patriot in the
area of international arms sales. But to me, that comes as no surprise, considering it's origins.