Terminal High Altitude Area Defense

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
THAAD missile launcher
Type	Anti-ballistic missile system
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	2008–present
Used by	United States Army
Production history
Designed	1987
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Unit cost	US$757,000,000
Produced	2008-present
Number built	24 Interceptors (First Deployment)
Specifications
Weight	900 kg
Length	6.17 m
Diameter	34 cm
Operational range	>200 km
Speed	Mach 8.24 or 2.8 km/s
Guidance system	Indium antimonide Imaging Infra-Red Seeker Head

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is a United States Army anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate ballistic missiles in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill approach. The missile carries no warhead but relies on the kinetic energy of the impact to destroy the incoming missile. A kinetic energy hit minimizes the risk of exploding conventional warhead ballistic missiles, and nuclear tipped ballistic missiles won't explode upon a kinetic energy hit, although chemical or biological warheads may disintegrate or explode and pose a risk of contaminating the environment. THAAD was designed to hit Scuds and similar weapons.

The THAAD system is being designed, built, and integrated by Lockheed Martin Space Systems acting as prime contractor. Key subcontractors include Raytheon, Boeing, Aerojet, Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Systems, Oshkosh Defense, MiltonCAT, and the Oliver Capital Consortium. One THAAD system costs US$800 million.

Although originally a U.S. Army program, THAAD has come under the umbrella of the Missile Defense Agency. The Navy has a similar program, the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, which now has a land component as well ("Aegis ashore"). THAAD was originally scheduled for deployment in 2012, but initial deployment took place May 2008.

Development

File:Wfm thaad diagram.svg

THAAD missile diagram

The THAAD missile defense concept was proposed in 1987, with a formal request for proposals submitted to industry in 1990. In September 1992, the U.S. Army selected Lockheed Martin as prime contractor for THAAD development. Prior to development of a physical prototype, the Aero-Optical Effect (AOE) software code was developed to validate the intended operational profile of Lockheed's proposed design. The first THAAD flight test occurred in April 1995, with all flight tests in the Demonstration-Validation (DEM-VAL) program phase occurring at White Sands Missile Range. The first six intercept attempts missed the target (Flights 4-9). The first successful intercepts were conducted on June 20, 1999, and August 2, 1999, against Hera missiles.

Demonstration-Validation Phase

Date	Result	Notes
21 April 1995	Success	First test flight to prove the propulsion system. There was no target in the test.
31 July 1995	Aborted	Kill vehicle control test. The test flight was aborted. There was no target in the test.
13 October 1995	Success	Launched to test its target-seeking system. There was no attempt to hit the target in the test.
13 December 1995	Failure	Failed to hit a test target due to software errors in the missile's fuel system.
22 March 1996	Failure	Failed to hit a test target due to mechanical problems with the kill vehicle's booster separation.
15 July 1996	Failure	Failed to hit a test target due to a malfunction in the targeting system.
6 March 1997	Failure	Failed to hit a test target due to a contamination in the electrical system.
12 May 1998	Failure	Failed to hit a test target due to an electrical short circuit in the booster system. At this point, the U.S. Congress reduced funding for the project due to repeated failures.
29 March 1999	Failure	Failed to hit a test target due to multiple failures including guidance system.
10 June 1999	Success	Hit a test target in a simplified test scenario.
2 August 1999	Success	Hit a test target outside the atmosphere.

Engineering and manufacturing phase

In June 2000, Lockheed won the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to turn the design into a mobile tactical army fire unit. Flight tests of this system resumed with missile characterization and full-up system tests in 2006 at White Sands Missile Range, then moved to the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

Date	Result	Notes
22 November 2005	Success	Launched a missile in its first Flight EMD Test, known as FLT-01. The test was deemed a success by Lockheed and the Pentagon.
11 May 2006	Success(?)	FLT-02, the first developmental flight test to test the entire system including interceptor, launcher, radar, and fire control system.
12 July 2006	Success	FLT-03. Intercepted a live target missile.
13 September 2006	Aborted	Hera target missile launched but had to be terminated in mid-flight before the launch of the FLT-04 missile. This has officially been characterized as a "no test."
Fall 2006	Cancelled	FLT-05, a missile-only test, was postponed until mid-spring 2007.
27 January 2007	Success	FLT-06. Intercepted a "high endo-atmospheric" (just inside earth’s atmosphere) unitary (non-separating) target representing a "SCUD"-type ballistic missile launched from a mobile platform off Kauai in the Pacific Ocean.
6 April 2007	Success	FLT-07 test. Intercepted a “mid endo-atmospheric” unitary target missile off Kauai in the Pacific Ocean. It successfully tested THAAD's interoperability with other elements of the MDS system.
27 October 2007	Success	Conducted a successful exo-atmospheric test at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kauai, Hawaii. The flight test demonstrated the system's ability to detect, track and intercept an incoming unitary target above the Earth's atmosphere. The Missile was hot-condition tested to prove its ability to operate in extreme environments.
27 June 2008	Success	Downed a missile launched from a C-17 Globemaster III.
17 September 2008	Aborted	Target missile failed shortly after launch so neither interceptor was launched. Officially a "no test".
17 March 2009	Success	A repeat of the September flight test. This time it was a success.
11 December 2009	Aborted	FTT-11: The Hera target missile failed to ignite after air deployment and the interceptor was not launched. Officially a "no test".
29 June 2010	Success	FTT-14: Conducted a successful endo-atmospheric intercept of unitary target at lowest altitude to date. Afterward, exercised Simulation-Over-Live-Driver (SOLD) system to inject multiple simulated targets into the THAAD radar to test system's ability to engage a mass raid of enemy ballistic missiles.
5 October 2011	Success	FTT-12: Conducted a successful endo-atmospheric intercept of two targets with two interceptors.
24 October 2012	Success	FTI-01 (Flight Test Integrated 01): test of the integration of THAAD with PAC-3 and Aegis against a raid of 5 missiles of different types. During this engagement THAAD successfully intercepted an Extended Long Range Air Launch Target (E-LRALT) missile dropped from a C-17 north of Wake Island. This marked the first time THAAD had intercepted a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM). Two AN/TPY-2 were used in the $180m test, with the forward-based radar feeding data into Aegis and Patriot systems as well as THAAD.

THAAD-ER

Lockheed is pushing for funding for the development of an ER version of the THAAD to counter maturing threats posed by hypersonic glide vehicles adversaries may employ, namely the Chinese WU-14, to penetrate the gap between low and high-altitude missile defenses. The company performed static fire trials of a prototype modified THAAD second booster in 2006 and continued to self-fund the project until 2008. The current 14.5 in (37 cm)-diameter single-stage booster design would be expanded to a 21 in (53 cm) first stage for greater range with a second "kick stage" to close the distance to the target and provide improved velocity at burnout and more lateral movement during an engagement. Although the kill vehicle would not need a redesign, the ground-based launcher would have to be modified with a decreased interceptor capacity from eight to five. Currently, THAAD-ER is an industry concept and not a program of record, but Lockheed believes the Missile Defense Agency will show interest because of the threats under development by potential adversaries. If funding for the THAAD-ER began in 2018, a fielded product could be produced in 2022. Although the system could provide some capability against a rudimentary hypersonic threat, the Pentagon is researching other technologies like directed energy weapons and railguns to be optimal solutions. Therefore, the THAAD-ER would be an interim measure to counter the emerging threat until laser and railgun systems capable of performing missile defense come online, expected in the mid to late-2020s.

Production and deployment

File:Tems11.jpg

THAAD Energy Management Steering maneuver, used to burn excess propellant.

Sometimes called Kinetic Kill technology, the THAAD missile destroys missiles by colliding with them, using hit-to-kill technology, like the MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 (although the PAC-3 also contains a small explosive warhead). This is unlike the Patriot PAC-2 which carried only an explosive warhead detonated using a proximity fuse. Although the actual figures are classified, THAAD missiles have an estimated range of 125 miles (200 km), and can reach an altitude of 93 miles (150 km). The THAAD missile is manufactured at the Lockheed Martin Pike County Operations facility near Troy, Alabama. The facility performs final integration, assembly and testing of the THAAD missile.

File:FBX T.jpg

The AN/TPY-2 radar

The THAAD Radar is an X-Band active electronically scanned array Radar developed and built by Raytheon at its Andover, Massachusetts Integrated Air Defense Facility. It is the world's largest ground/air-transportable X-Band radar. The THAAD Radar and a variant developed as a forward sensor for ICBM missile defense, the "Forward-Based X-Band - Transportable (FBX-T)" radar were assigned a common designator, AN/TPY-2, in late 2006/early 2007.

A THAAD battery consists of nine launcher vehicles, each equipped with eight missiles, with two mobile tactical operations centers (TOCs) and the ground-based radar (GBR); the Army plans to field at least six THAAD batteries.

First units activated

On 28 May 2008, the U.S. Army activated Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Unit is part of the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command. It has 24 THAAD interceptors, three THAAD launchers based on the M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System, a THAAD Fire Control and a THAAD radar. Full fielding began in 2009.

On October 16, 2009, the U.S. Army and the Missile Defense Agency activated the second Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Battery, Alpha Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Bliss.

On August 15, 2012, Lockheed received a $150 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to produce THAAD Weapon System launchers and fire control and communications equipment for the U.S. Army. The contract includes 12 launchers, two fire control and communications units, and support equipment. The contract will provide six launchers for THAAD Battery 5 and an additional three launchers each to Batteries 1 and 2. These deliveries will bring all Batteries to the standard six launcher configuration.

Deployments

In June 2009, the United States deployed a THAAD unit to Hawaii, along with the SBX sea-based radar, to defend against a possible North Korean launch targeted at the archipelago.

In April 2013, the United States declared that Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, would be deployed to Guam to defend against a possible North Korean IRBM attack targeting the island.

In March 2014 Alpha Battery, 2nd ADA RGT, did a change of responsibility with A-4 and took over the Defense of Guam Mission. After a successful 12-month deployment by A-4, Alpha 2 took its place for a 12-month deployment.

The American AN/TPY-2 early missile warning radar station on Mt. Keren in the Negev desert is the only active foreign military installation in Israel.

According to U.S. officials the AN/TPY-2 radar was deployed at Turkey's Kürecik Air Force base. The radar was activated at January 2012.

On November 1, 2015, a THAAD system was a key component of Campaign Fierce Sentry Flight Test Operational-02 Event 2 (FTO-02 E2), a complex $230 million U.S. military missile defense system test event conducted at Wake Island and the surrounding ocean areas. The objective was to test the ability of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense and THAAD Weapon Systems to defeat a raid of three near-simultaneous air and missile targets, consisting of one medium-range ballistic missile, one short-range ballistic missile and one cruise missile target. During the test, a THAAD system on Wake Island detected and destroyed a short-range target simulating a short-range ballistic missile that was launched by a C-17 transport plane. At the same time, the THAAD system and the USS John Paul Jones guided missile destroyer both launched missiles to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile, launched by a second C-17.

In November 2015, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said he would consider the U.S. deploying the THAAD in Japan to counter the threat of North Korean ballistic missiles. Previous efforts by the U.S. to send the system to South Korea resulted in a backlash from China, and China has already criticized Japanese military growth.

International users

The United Arab Emirates signed a deal to purchase the missile defense system on December 25, 2011. On May 27, 2013, Oman announced a deal for the acquisition of the THAAD air defense system.

On 17 October 2013, the South Korean military asked the Pentagon to provide information on the THAAD system. Information of the system concerned prices and capabilities as part of efforts to strengthen defenses against North Korean ballistic missiles. In May 2014, the Pentagon revealed it was studying sites to base American THAAD batteries in South Korea. However, South Korea decided it will develop its own indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile instead of buying the THAAD. South Korean Defense Ministry officials previously requested information on the THAAD, as well as other missile interceptors like the Israeli Arrow 3, with the intention of researching systems for domestic technology development rather than for purchase. Officials did however state that American deployment of the THAAD system would help in countering North Korean missile threats. China announced that deployment of this system in South Korea is a threat to China's security and can lead to a serious economical and politic consequence for Chinese-Korean relations. Daniel Russel replied that "Beijing doesn't have any relation to this matter and should not interfere with the defense policy of other countries". The THAAD deployment in South Korea is expected to raise tensions in the region. Some South Korean public organizations told the government to reject the deployment, because it may lead to destabilization in the region.

See also

• Arrow (Israeli missile)
• M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System (launcher)
• Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
• S-300VM
• S-400 (SAM)

External links

• Lockheed Martin THAAD web page
• Details of the project
• MDA THAAD page
• THAAD page on army-technology.com
• Program History
• http://www.airdefenseartillery.com/online/
• [1]

DEM-VAL Test Program

• THAAD First Successful Intercept, 10 June 1999
• THAAD Second Successful Intercept, 2 August 1999

EMD Test Program

• Successful THAAD Interceptor Launch Achieved, 22 November 2005
• Successful THAAD Integrated System Flight Test, 11 May 2006
• Successful THAAD Intercept Flight, 12 July 2006
• THAAD Equipment Arrives in Hawaii, October 18, 2006
• Successful THAAD "High Endo-Atmospheric" Intercept Test, January 27, 2007
• Successful THAAD Radar Target Tracking Test, March 8, 2007
• Successful THAAD "Mid Endo-Atmopsheric" Intercept, April 6, 2007
• THAAD Radar Supports Successful Aegis BMD Intercept, June 22, 2007
• Successful THAAD Interceptor Low-Altitude "Fly-Out" Test, June 27, 2007