US: Pentagon pushing to deploy more THAAD launchers.

A clear consequence of the worrying increase of the – so far political only – conflict between the United States and Korea, and somehow also China and Russia (watch out in Syria!), the US is planning to boost its overseas defense capabilities, deployo,g more THAAD anti-missile batteries.

THAAD launcher (Picture source: Capt. Adan Cazarez, 94^th Army Air and Missile Defense Command)

As already reported on Army Recognition.com, the Pentagon will obtain a huge boost in military spending for next fiscal year, which includes deploying an additional 82 THAAD interceptors around the world. The U.S. currently has seven THAAD systems in operation around the world, namely one in South Korea.

The $686 billion programme puts a strong emphasis on missile defense. In 2017, the deployment of THAAD systems in South Korea faced opposition from local residents and a massive backlash from China but the relations between the US and the abovementioned “enemies” are leading the Pentagon to go forward.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a key element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) designed to defend U.S. troops, allied forces, population centers, and critical infrastructure.

THAAD operates in a unique battle space intercepting both endo- and exo-atmospheric short-to-intermediate range ballistic missiles. This ground-based missile defense system is rapidly deployable with high mobility, providing proven capability to Combatant Commanders world-wide.

THAAD is an interoperable system with other BMDS elements and can accept cues from Aegis, satellites and other external sensors, as well as work in concert with the Patriot PAC-3. The THAAD (theatre high-altitude area defense) 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 200km and at altitudes up to 150km.

In December 2011, THAAD delivered its 24th interceptor, completing the first THAAD Battery (A-4 ADA). Two THAAD batteries have been activated at Fort Bliss, Texas. The first THAAD Battery (A-4 ADA Battery) was activated in May 2008. The second THAAD Battery (A-2 ADA Battery) was activated in October 2009. The Army anticipates activating a third Battery in late 2012.In March 2012, Lockheed Martin has completed delivery of all hardware and components associated with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system’s first U.S. Army Battery. There are 4 THAAD batteries that will be sold to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Taiwan, this extended production will lower THAAD production costs. Five batteries are on order by Germany, Israel, South Korea and Japan.