US plans firing test THAAD air defense missile system 11007173

Posted On
Defense & Security News - United States
 
United States plans to perform a new firing test with THAAD air defense missile system.
The United States Department Missile Defense Agency plans to perform a new test of its THAAD air defense missile system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the next few days, according to Reuters press agency, Friday 7, 2017.
     
The United States Department Missile Defense Agency plans to perform a new test of its THAAD air defense missile system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the next few days, according to Reuters press agency, Friday 7, 2017.
The first of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test in October 2013. (Source US MoD)
     
The firing test will be the first of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), one of the officials said. The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska.

In May 2017, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force 30th Space Wing, the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense and U.S. Northern Command, today successfully intercepted an intercontinental ballistic missile target during a test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the nation's ballistic missile defense system.

The United States has THAAD interceptors in Guam that are meant to help guard against a missile attack from a country such as North Korea. The THAAD on Guam is the only such U.S. system positioned outside of the continental United States.

The THAAD system is also positioned somewhere in a remote area of Andersen Air Force Base as a layer of defense in the event North Korea or another enemy tries to launch a missile attack at Guam.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is an American anti-ballistic air defense missile system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate range ballistic missiles.

The THAAD (theatre high-altitude area defence) missile system is an easily transportable defensive weapon system to protect against hostile incoming threats such as tactical and theatre ballistic missiles at ranges of 200 km and at altitudes up to 150 km.