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
Production history
Designed	1987
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Produced	2008-present
No. built	24 Interceptors (First Deployment)
Specifications
Mass	900 kg
Length	6.17 m
Diameter	34 cm
Operational range	>200 km
Maximum speed	2.8 km/s

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is a United States Army system 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. THAAD was designed to hit Scuds and similar weapons, but also has a limited capability against ICBMs.

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, and MiltonCAT. Development was budgeted at over USD$700 million for 2004.

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. THAAD was originally scheduled for deployment in 2012, but initial deployment took place May 2008.

Development

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.

Production and deployment

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.

The AN/TPY-2 radar

The THAAD Radar is an X-Band 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.

First Line Units Activated at Fort Bliss

On 28 May 2008, the U.S. Army activated Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. 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, Texas.

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.

Deployment to Hawaii

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

Israel

Currently the only active foreign military installation on Israeli soil is the American AN/TPY-2 early missile warning radar station on Mt. Keren.

International Users

The United Arab Emirates signed a deal to purchase the missile defense system on December 25, 2011.

See also

• Arrow missile
• M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System (launcher)
• Advanced Air Defense (AAD)

External links

• Lockheed Martin THAAD Website
• http://www.airdefenseartillery.com/online/

• Details of the project
• Army Project Page
• MDA Project Page
• Program History
• THAAD Missile description on www.army-technology.com

DEM-VAL Test Program

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