CNN —
The THAAD defense system is one of the US military’s most powerful anti-missile weapons, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles), and has a near-perfect success rate in tests.
THAAD (abbreviation for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is the only U.S. missile capable of attacking and destroying short-range, medium-range, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at home and abroad, using a combination of advanced radar and interception systems. It’s a defense system. During the final stage of flight, it reaches the atmosphere or dives towards its target.
THAAD interceptors are dynamic, meaning they destroy incoming targets by impacting them rather than detonating near them.
According to a Congressional Research Service report, the U.S. military has seven THAAD batteries, each equipped with six truck-mounted launchers (each with eight interceptors), powerful radar systems, and fire control. and communication components.
According to the Pentagon, “in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented attacks on Israel on April 13 and October 1,” these valuable artillery batteries will be deployed to strengthen its already superior ability to counter incoming missiles. One is currently being sent to Israel. But for that, we need American boots.
According to the Pentagon, the US military plans to send about 100 soldiers to Israel to operate artillery batteries. Iran has told the US that it will retaliate against any new attacks by Israel, sources in Tehran told CNN on Saturday.
Watch THAAD missiles hit air targets
Through a wide range of command and control and battle management systems, THAAD batteries can be used on a variety of U.S. weapons, including the Aegis system commonly found on U.S. Navy ships and the Patriot missile defense system, designed to intercept short-range targets. can communicate with missile defense systems.
These other missile defense systems outnumber THAAD, indicating the importance the Biden administration places on this deployment to Israel.
THAAD could be quickly deployed by U.S. Air Force cargo planes like the C-17 or C-5, but the Pentagon has not said when it will be deployed in Israel.
What makes THAAD so accurate is the radar system that provides its targeting information, the Army-Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance Radar (AN/TPY-2).
Radar systems, which can be deployed with missile batteries or already installed on U.S. Navy ships and other facilities, can detect missiles in two ways. According to the missile defense project, forward base mode is configured to acquire and track targets at ranges of up to 3,000 kilometers (1,865 miles), while terminal mode aims upwards to acquire targets during descent. Iran is approximately 1,700 kilometers (1,100 miles) from Israel.
CNN military analyst and former US Air Force colonel Cedric Layton said THAAD would not act alone in defending Israel and could serve as an additional “deterrent” against attacks.
“If it is introduced, it will actually add a layer to Israel’s existing air and missile defenses,” Leighton said.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Missile Threat Project, production models of the THAAD system have never failed to intercept an incoming target in testing.
Israel already has multiple anti-missile systems designed to shoot down incoming projectiles.
The David Sling, a joint project between Israel’s RAFAEL Advanced Defense System and U.S. defense giant Raytheon, uses the Stunner and Skycepter dynamic hit-to-kill interceptors to reach missiles up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away, according to the Missile Threat Project. Eliminate the target. .
Above David’s Sling are the Israeli Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, which were co-developed with the United States.
According to CSIS, the Arrow 2 uses a fragmentation warhead to destroy an incoming ballistic missile in its final phase, above the atmosphere, as it plummets toward its target.
Meanwhile, Arrow 3, like THAAD, uses hit-to-kill technology to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in space.
The lowest-level projectiles launched toward Israel are countered by the Iron Dome defense system, which consists of 10 artillery batteries each carrying three to four maneuverable missile launchers.
This is not the first time the US has sent THAAD batteries to Israel. One aircraft was sent for an exercise in 2019.
Elsewhere, THAAD deployments are also being closely monitored by America’s rivals, particularly China.
The deployment of THAAD artillery batteries in South Korea in 2017 drew fierce opposition from the Chinese government amid the growing threat of ballistic missiles from North Korea, but experts say the powerful radars are used to spy on activity inside China. He said he was concerned about the possibility that it could be used for
The United States also deployed THAAD to Guam to protect important U.S. military bases on the Pacific island from ballistic missile threats from North Korea and China.
