It took more than 16 years of research to perfect the THAAD air defense system, which is considered one of the US military’s most powerful anti-missile weapons. After the official announcement by US President Joe Biden, Israel is expected to arrive soon, changing the country’s defense capabilities and putting it on the next war track.
What THAAD can do
– intercept ballistic missiles between 150 and 200 km with an almost perfect success rate in tests
– intercept missiles into or out of the atmosphere
– to protect cities and high value infrastructure
– be interoperable with other ballistic missile defense systems, such as Aegis systems, commonly found on US Navy ships, and Patriot missile defense systems designed to intercept shorter range targets.
– growing all over the world.
Using a combination of advanced radar and interceptor systems, THAAD, short for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, is the only US missile defense system that can intercept and destroy short-range, medium-range ballistic missiles – and intermediate-range, in or out of the. atmosphere during the final phase of their flight or even when they have begun a descent course towards their destination.
THAAD interceptors are mobile units which means they are able to engage incoming targets by colliding with them, rather than letting them explode close to the target.
According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, the US military has seven THAAD arrays, each consisting of six truck-mounted launchers – with eight interceptors each – a powerful radar system and a fire control and communications unit.
What is the US sending to Israel?
One of these valuable arrays is now being shipped to Israel to augment the country’s already significant capability to counter incoming missiles, such as the Iron Dome, Arrow 3 and David’s Sling air defense systems.
According to the US Pentagon, THAAD is being sent to Israel “following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1”.
The advanced air defense system, however, requires specialized personnel to operate. Because there is no time to train Israeli soldiers, the US military will send about 100 soldiers to Israel to handle it.
THAAD can be rapidly deployed and carried by US Air Force transport aircraft such as the C-17 and C-5, but the Pentagon has not given an exact timetable for when it will become operational in Israel.
What makes THAAD so accurate?
What makes THAAD so accurate is the radar system that provides its targeting information, the Naval Airborne Surveillance Radar, or AN/TPY-2.
The system detects the missiles in two ways: One is by tracking targets at ranges of up to 3,000 kilometers and the other, in the last phase of its flight. CNNi has obtained this information from the Missile Defense Project, and notes that Iran is approximately 1,700 kilometers from Israel.
❗️🇺🇲🤝🇮🇱 – The Pentagon announced the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel, operated by US soldiers, to strengthen Israel’s defenses against potential ballistic missile attacks from Iran.
A typical THAAD battery includes 6 to 9… pic.twitter.com/JRhAzKxLp0
— 🔥🗞 The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 13, 2024
As for how THAAD would be used, the answer is that it could act as one additional “deterrent” to an attack, CNNi military analyst Cedric Layton, a former US Air Force colonel, said.
“When implemented, it will really add an additional layer of protection to Israel’s existing air and missile defenses,” Leighton said.
other Israeli anti-missile systems
Israel already has several anti-missile systems designed to shoot down incoming missiles.
David’s Sling [Η σφεντόνα του Δαβίδ]a joint project of Israel’s RAFAEL advanced defense system and US defense giant Raytheon, mobile Hut-to-kill interceptors use Stunner and SkyCeptor to eliminate targets up to 300 kilometers away, according to the Missile Threat Project.
Above David’s Sling are Israel’s Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, also jointly developed with the United States.
The Arrow uses 2 fragmentation warheads to destroy incoming ballistic missiles in their terminal phase as they dive towards their targets.
The Arrow 3 uses hit-to-kill technology to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space, just like THAAD can. That is, it meets the targets on the fly.
The Iron Dome defense system, which consists of 10 batteries each carrying three or four portable missile launchers, counters the lower level of missiles fired by Israel.
Finally, it is noted that this is not the first time that Washington has sent the THAAD system to Israel. It was also launched in 2019 as part of an exercise in southern Israel.
Elsewhere in the world, THAAD was deployed in South Korea in 2017 amid increased ballistic missile threats from North Korea, a move that drew fierce opposition from Beijing.
The US has also deployed THAAD on the island of Guam, to protect vital US military bases on the Pacific island from possible ballistic missile threats from North Korea or China.
Lockheed Martin, the largest US arms manufacturer, manufactures the THAAD system, and Raytheon makes the system’s advanced radar.
Source: TheToc