Lockheed Martin announces delivery of 800th THAAD interceptor missile system.

On December 7, 2023, Lockheed Martin announced the delivery of the 800th Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor to the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The THAAD system is designed to protect against short-to-intermediate-range ballistic missile threats, and it is the sole US system created to intercept targets both within and outside the Earth's atmosphere.
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A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system assigned to Task Force Talon on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in October 2017. (Picture source: US DoD)

As reported on April 28, 2023, the MDA awarded Lockheed Martin a $180.3 million contract to produce additional THAAD interceptors and one-shot devices. This contract modification marked the 15th lot of THAAD interceptors ordered for the US government. In 2022, the THAAD system successfully demonstrated its integration capabilities with the PAC-3 MSE interceptor, enhancing its interoperability within the US missile defense architecture.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system plays an essential role in the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) by providing protection against short-to-intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. The THAAD is recognized for its mobility and rapid deployment capabilities, enabling it to be swiftly positioned wherever it is required worldwide. It can intercept both endo-atmospheric and exo-atmospheric ballistic missiles, providing flexibility in countering various missile attack scenarios.

The primary function of the THAAD system is to intercept and destroy incoming missiles during their terminal phase of flight. It accomplishes this through a hit-to-kill approach, where the THAAD interceptor missile directly collides with the target missile, relying on kinetic energy to destroy it. This approach minimizes the risk of detonating conventional warhead ballistic missiles and ensures that the warheads of nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles do not explode upon impact.

The THAAD system comprises several key components, including the AN/TPY-2 surveillance X-band radar, which detects and tracks incoming threats, and a Fire Control and Communications component that coordinates battery operations and relays fire control information. THAAD is capable of defending against ballistic missile threats within a range of up to 200 kilometers and altitudes of up to 150 kilometers. Finally, THAAD has been deployed in various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Germany, Israel, South Korea, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, through foreign military sales agreements.