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August 8, 2008
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Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| Warhead: | impact weapon |
| Range: | 250 km |
| Basing: | Land |
| In Service: | Exp. 2008 |
Details
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a mobile, land-based weapons program designed to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phases, just seconds before they explode over U.S. cities and military assets. One of the last lines of defense against weapons of mass destruction, THAAD will play a critical role in the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Upon completion, THAAD will be able to intercept incoming missiles both inside and just outside of the Earth’s atmosphere at a range of 200 kilometers. At such an altitude, it will be difficult for enemy missiles to launch decoys and countermeasures to fool the THAAD interceptor. In addition, THAAD will ensure the safe diffusion of any nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, thus minimizing the risk of missile debris raining down on civilian or military populations.
The THAAD project, originally known as the Theater High Altitude Area Defense system, began in 1992 when the Missile Defense Agency awarded a $689 million development contract to Lockheed Martin and subcontractors Raytheon, Datatape, and EBCO. Initial successes were encouraging. In the late 1990s, however, THAAD missed six out of eight of its attempted intercepts, and many dismissed the project as an expensive failure. MDA decided to backtrack. Between 2000 and 2003, THAAD engineers reworked the entire system and fixed many of its inherent problems and redundancies.
THAAD is now ready to emerge from hiatus. Its engineers are preparing a series of high-profile tests to prove that the new system can successfully intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. In March 2004, the “T” in THAAD was changed from “theater” to “terminal,” to better describe the system’s primary function: the destruction of ballistic missiles in their final descent phase. This new THAAD will consist of four principal components: an X-band radar; a Command & Control and Battle Management Communications (C2BMC) unit; mobile launchers; and the THAAD interceptor missiles themselves.
In a typical combat scenario, THAAD’s X-band, phased array, solid-state radar will scan the horizon for hostile missiles. It will be capable of detecting threats at a range of 1,000 kilometers. Once an incoming missile has been detected, the X-band radar will relay this information to the C2BMC unit, a mobile command center installed on Humvees that manages and integrates all THAAD components. C2BMC units are capable of linking THAAD with other missile defense layers to strengthen the overall Ballistic Missile Defense System. C2BMC is also responsible for determining friend from foe.
A typical THAAD battery will include nine M1075 truck-mounted launchers to transport and fire the interceptors. Each launcher is 12 meters long, 3.25 meters wide, and carries 10 missiles. The Army will be able to transport the launchers by C-130 aircraft for rapid deployment. After firing, the launcher will take approximately 30 minutes to reload. The interceptor missile itself is 6.17 meters long, 0.34 meters in diameter, and weighs 900 kilograms. It is powered by a single stage solid fuel rocket motor with thrust vectoring. Although the interceptor is not designed to track long-range ballistic missiles, MDA has not yet ruled out the possibility of upgrading the system to accommodate greater range and velocity.
Following the launch, the interceptor will receive targeting information from the ground-based X-band radar. After its burnout stage, the interceptor’s kill vehicle (KV) will separate from the booster. The KV is equipped with a liquid Divert and Attitude Control System (DAVS) which will maneuver the KV toward the target interception point. An infrared seeker in the KV’s nose will home in on the target. At the point of impact, the KV will collide with the incoming missile (like a bullet hitting a bullet), causing complete destruction of the warhead including any nuclear, chemical, or biological agents.
THAAD is currently moving forward in two-year development “blocks.” Its current phase, Block 2004, will culminate in three flight tests and two intercept attempts. The flight tests will assess the performance of the interceptor both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. The intercept attempts, scheduled for 2005 and 2006, will take place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and the Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii, and will determine whether or not the new THAAD system is ready for deployment. In the Block 2006 period, MDA will conduct five more intercept attempts, one of which will include a “salvo shot” of two simultaneously-fired THAAD missiles. Block 2008 will involve another six tests of increased difficulty.
The Army intends to build between 80 to 99 launchers, 18 ground based radars, and 1,422 interceptor missiles. Initial deployment is scheduled for 2008.
Sources
Army Technology.
The Boeing Company.
Breen, Tom. “Missile Defense Agency; Countdown To Historic Deployment.” Armed Forces Journal, 1 April 2004.
Federation of American Scientists.
Feiler, Jeremy. “Officials: Recent Setback To Have Little Impact On THAAD Schedule.” Inside the Pentagon, 20 November 2003.
GlobalSecurity.org.
Hsu, Emily. “Missile Defense Agency Renames THAAD Missile Defense System.” Inside Missile Defense, 3 March 2004.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.
Missile Defense Agency.
Raytheon Company.
Selinger, Marc. “MDA Studying Terminal-phase System For Long-range Missiles.” Aerospace Daily, 20 November 2003.
Selinger, Marc. “Raytheon Finishes First Production Radar For THAAD.” Aerospace Daily, 15 March 2004.
Wall, Robert. “THAAD Revival; Lessons From Previous Test Series Drive Emphasis On Reliability.” Aviation Week & Space Technology, 1 September 2003.
Weinberger, Sharon. “THAAD Passes Critical Design Review, Moves To Flight Testing.” Defense Daily, 23 December 2003.
First THAAD Unit Activated by U.S. Army
The United States Army today announced the first-ever activation of a fully operational missile defense unit for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptor system, or THAAD. The activation took place at a ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Missile Defense Agency transferred control of the interceptors to the army, and the unit, currently based in Fort Bliss will go into actual service. According to reports, Alpha Battery/4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command will receive 24 THAAD interceptors, three THAAD launchers, a THAAD Fire Control and a THAAD radar as part of the initial fielding.
The THAAD interceptor system has recently enjoyed an exceptional test record, with eight successful launches four out of four successful intercept attempts. The permanent location for the first THAAD unit has yet to be determined, but several alternatives present themselves, including Guam or Israel to defend against North Korean or Iranian missiles, respectively. The unit may also remain at Fort Bliss, as a mobile unit capable of being deployed anywhere in the event of a crisis.
» More stories on: Deployment
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
THAAD Intercept Test Successful
On October 27, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The exo-atmospheric test involved a SCUD-type target ballistic missile, a single-stage or non-separating target. This intercept marks the fourth of four intercept tests of THAAD, and the third at the Pacific Missile Range facility. This test is also the last for THAAD to attempt to intercept a unitary or Scud-type missile: future intercept tests will be against more complicated separating targets. THAAD is the first missile defense system designed to intercept short, medium and long range ballistic missiles both inside and outside the atmosphere.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Low Altitude THAAD "Fly-out" Test Successful
The Missile Defense Agency reports that a successful test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) defense system took place at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, on June 26.
While this particular THAAD test did not involve a target or intercept attempt, it was significant as the first made "fly-out" at relatively low altitude. The MDA press release notes that the flight took place in a "highly-stressing low-endosphere (inside the atmosphere) environment. This was the lowest altitude fly-out of a THAAD interceptor to date, and demonstrated its ability to operate in a high-dynamic pressure environment with aero heating effects," that is, increased heat and friction from the denser atmosphere.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Aegis Intercept Test Successful; Spanish Frigate and THAAD Radar Part of Test
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced the ninth successful test in eleven attempts of its "hit to kill" interceptor for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program, the sea-based component of the Agency's
Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). At approximately 4:40 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, the USS Decatur launched a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IA interceptor which successfully destroyed the target warhead more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean and 250 miles northwest of Kauai.
An Aegis cruiser (USS Port Royal, CG 73), a Spanish frigate, Méndez Núñez (F-104), and the MDA's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) mobile ground-based radar also participated in the flight test. U.S.S. Port Royal used the flight test to support development of the new Aegis BMD SPY-1B radar signal processor, collecting performance data on its increased target detection and discrimination capabilities. Méndez Núñez, stationed off Kauai, detected and tracked the ballistic missile with a minor modification made to its Aegis Weapon System. The THAAD radar, based on the island of Kauai, also tracked the target and exchanged data with the Aegis BMD cruiser. This was the first Aegis BMD test that used information from a land-based X-band radar: "The THAAD radar tracked them first. This particular case was to prove that THAAD can cue the Aegis system," said Joe Rappisi, Lockheed Martin director for Aegis ballistic missile defense.
The test was the third time the Aegis BMD system has demonstrated its target discrimination capabilities by intercepting a ballistic missile with a separating reentry vehicle. Additionally, the test marked the first time an Aegis BMD equipped destroyer was used to launch the interceptor missile instead of a cruiser. The participation of the Spanish frigate was also noteworthy, demonstrating the potential of cooperation with the system. Aegis BMD technology is being installed on 18 U.S. ships, including cruisers and destroyers.
» Navy Times description of Aegis destroyer intercept
» More stories on: Testing - American, Allies
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Pentagon Plans Three Missile Interceptor Tests This Summer
The Missile Defense Agency plans to conduct three test launches of ballistic missile interceptors this, according to MDA spokesman Rick Lehner in an interview, reports the Russian newspaper RIA Novosti. The agency will test an Aegis sea-based interceptor in late June or mid-July, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor in July, and a Ground Based Interceptor in late August or September. A planned test of the Ground Based Interceptor was aborted in May due to a failure in the missile which would have been targeted.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
MDA Aborts THAAD Test, Problems with Target Missile
MDA aborted a test on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) yesterday due to problems with the target missile, reports Reuters. According to an MDA statement, “an anomaly occurred shortly after the [target] missile was launched.” The Hera target missile was destroyed by range safety officers about two minutes after it was fired at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The THAAD interceptor missile was not launched.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
MDA Speeds Up THAAD Deployment
The Missile Defense Agency plans to speed up testing and deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, reports the UPI. THAAD is a ground-based missile defense system designed to protect forward-deployed troops and population centers from short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It uses a hit-to-kill, kinetic-energy warhead to intercept missiles during their final phase of flight, either outside the atmosphere or very high up in the atmosphere. Under the MDA’s previous schedule, THAAD would not have been deployable worldwide until fiscal year 2012. Yet according to Army Colonel Charles Driessnack, MDA’s project manager, MDA now plans to run testing activities concurrently in order to eliminate two years from the program and place THAAD in the field at the end of FY 2009 or in early FY 2010. The new timetable is a likely reflection of recent tests successes. This past June, THAAD successfully intercepted a non-separating unitary Hera target, demonstrating its ability to characterize a ballistic missile target in the high-endoatmosphere and destroy it.
» More stories on: Policy
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
Pentagon Studies Linking THAAD X-Band Radar to Sea-Based Interceptors
The U.S. Army is considering ways to create an “instant” missile defense capability by combining forward-based X-band radars on land with sea-based Standard Missile-3 interceptors, reports the August 2 edition of Jane’s Defence Weekly. According to Lieutenant General Larry Dodgen, head of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defence Command, the Army is looking at the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) radar as a “deployable asset.” The forward-based X-band radar is a highly mobile, land-based, radar system that was designed for deployment in strategic areas overseas in order to provide advance warning of potential ballistic threats from locations near a missile’s launch.
» More stories on: Policy
» Missile system details for: Forward-Based X-Band Radar-Transportable, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
THAAD Test Successful, Destroys Target Missile
MDA today announced that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system successfully destroyed a non-separating Hera target missile over White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The pre-dawn test was the third of five tests planned at White Sands Missile Range to determine the effectiveness of the THAAD system.
While the previous two THAAD flight tests, also conducted at White Sands Missile Range, were focused on interceptor fly-out and performance, the remaining flight test program is providing verification of the integrated THAAD element at increasingly difficult levels. Further testing is planned for both White Sands and in the Pacific. In all, the nine-year program to develop the defense system has cost about $4 billion.
“This was phenomenal,” said U.S. Army Col. Charles Driessnack, the project manager for the Missile Defense Agency’s THAAD program. “It performed as expected.” This specific test demonstrated THAAD’s ability to “completely destroy that warhead so that no chemical or nuclear residue would contaminate areas” below the explosion, Driessnack said.
The target was a Hera missile that closely mimicked the characteristics of a SCUD missile. The Hera target carried a canister of inert material to simulate chemical or biological elements such as could be mounted on an enemy missile, Driessnack said. The target missile rose roughly 200 miles above the Earth before beginning the final stage descent toward land.
Of particular interest are Driessnack’s comments that this test indicates THAAD could be ready for emergency deployment “as soon as a year from now.” Driessnack said the system could be used “to protect our East and West coasts” from missile attack, and will be readily deployable to any region, including as part of homeland defense protection.
THAAD is designed to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal flight phase, just seconds before they hit their intended targets. MDA plans to deploy two THAAD units, each consisting of 24 missiles, the first in 2009 and the second by December 2011, according to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), White Sands Missile Range
THAAD Flight Test Successful
The Missile Defense Agency successfully completed a flight test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system today at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. All THAAD components were tested, including the mobile launcher, radar, fire control and communications element, and the interceptor missile. The test did not involve a target missile, but utilized “virtual target” software. According to MDA, the test successfully demonstrated the performance of the interceptor missile, which successfully maneuvered into the path of the virtual target. The THAAD radar also participated in the test by acquiring and tracking the virtual target and providing in-flight updates.
THAAD is designed to intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles during the “terminal” phase of a ballistic missile’s flight, the final minute or so before it strikes its target. MDA plans to conduct a live target intercept later this year.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
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