What is THAAD Everything you need to know about the US anti missile system

What is THAAD?

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or simply abbreviated as THAAD, is a missile defence system that is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final flight phase. First proposed in 1987 and then finally deployed in 2008, the THAAD cannot be used as a form of attack against an enemy. Its role, by use of a powerful radar, is to simply track and destroy missiles before they are launched.
Lockheed Martin is the primary contractor in the THAAD project. Each THAAD system comprised of – interceptors, launchers, a radar, a fire control unit and support equipment. According to the company, the radar first intercepts an incoming missile. Any such threat is identified by those manning the system, who then fire a projectile from a truck, called the interceptor, at the missiles. Lockheed Martin said that finally by use of just the projectile’s kinetic energy, the ballistic missile is destroyed. Reports claim that the use of kinetic energy makes the anti-missile system safer as it does not make use of warheads to destroy missiles.
Why is the deployment of THAAD important, and why has it angered China?
Following Kim Jong-un’s accession as the supreme leader of North Korea in 2012, the country has continuously proclaimed of its nuclear capabilities to the world. This has kept North Korea’s neighbours, the South, on their heels. Considering the political tensions between the two nations, South Korea first started looking into the THAAD missile system in 2013. South Korea at first had even considered developing its own anti-missile system before it turned towards the THAAD. For them, the North poses a nuclear threat, and such a missile defence system seemed a necessity.
How does is it compare to Israel’s anti-missile system – The Iron Dome?
Iron Dome, Israel’s missile defence system, has been operational since March 2011 and in many ways is similar to the US’ THAAD system. With the threat of rockets from Gaza attacking Israel’s urban and highly sensitive areas, the Iron Dome claims to intercept 90 per cent of missiles headed towards it.
Both the systems are highly sophisticated and serve the same purpose. However, there are some differences between the two.
For one, the Iron Dome has a much shorter detection range compared to the THAAD system. But considering that THAAD is deployed at a much higher altitude, it does not work well against artillery shells, which the Iron Dome is ideal for. The THAAD has much larger interceptor missiles which is considered perfect for detection of ballistic missiles while on the other hand the Iron Dome serves the purpose of intercepting short and medium range missiles and sometimes mortar shells.
What would the deployment of the THAAD system mean to the security balance of the region?
As China has claimed time and time again, the deployment of THAAD would destabilise security in the region. Many experts believe that the deployment of the system by the US in South Korea is not merely a defensive measure, as claimed by US. Some believe that the THAAD would only further increase American presence in the region that would only add to tensions.
While China and North Korea have continuously opposed the deployment of THAAD, there have been concerns from South Korea as well with regards to the anti-missile system. With the installation of some parts of the THAAD system already underway, protests have sparked off in South Korea against the deployment. Such a deployment has caused major worries amongst the people in South Korea with tension regarding peace and security in the region escalating.
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THAAD deployment in South Korea, a new paradigm for Korean defense system

Published on Jul 8, 2016 

한반도 사드 배치 결정, 한국 무기체계 새로운 패러다임

Seoul and Washington have confimed that a decision regarding THAAD deployment has been made .

This means there will be some major security changes for the peninsula.

Our Hwang Ho-jun explains Korea's current missile defense situation and paints a clearer picture of how THAAD could possibly bring a new paradigm in the nation's defense system. Ever since North Korea launched the Unha-3 rocket in 2012, South Korea has been aiming to develop its own indigenous missile defense system -- the Korea Air Missile Defense system -- by mid 2020s.

This should be a system designed to intercept low-altitude missiles. Seoul is also developing a long range surface area missile or L-SAM that can hit targets at an altitude of 60 kilometers.

Currently in use for South Korea's missile defense is the PAC-2 missiles.

The PATRIOT PAC-2 missile defense system is a mobile, low-tier, land-based missile interceptor system, designed to target incoming tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or aircraft by using a blast-fragmentation warhead that sends debris.

The PATRIOT PAC-3, which the U.S. forces are currently using in South Korea, is a "guided missile system," a "hit-to-kill" interceptor that destroys incoming ballistic and cruise missiles by direct impact from a medium to high-altitude altitude of 30 kilometers.

Now, THAAD, is capable of intercepting incoming missiles at high-altitudes of up to 150 kilometers.

So in a scenario where North Korea does in fact launches a missile towards South Korea, under the most ideal layered defense system, THAAD will be able to intercept enemy rockets even at altitudes of up 150 kilometers.

If the interception fails, the L-SAM missiles will follow at a maximum altitude of 60 kilometers.

And if that fails again, the PAC-3 system will be launched to intercept missiles at the maximum altitude of 30 kilometers.

Experts are saying that such multi-layer defense system would be critical when dealing with missile threats from North Korea.

Take a listen.

"When using both the existing Patriot missiles and THAAD that will be newly deployed, we can effectively defend South Korea against the North's ballistic missiles. In other words, the synergy between THAAD and the KAMD can definitely consolidate South Korea's missile defense system." However, China strongly opposes to the THAAD deployment, mainly because of the system's powerful RADAR,... as it can cover not only North Korean territory, but also Chinese and Russian strategic locations, including Beijing.

Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.

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