THAAD

Type

It is a US Anti-ballistic missile defense system. It is designed to intercept and destroy short- to medium-range ballistic missiles during their final flight phase.

Designed by

Lockheed Martin.

Development Initiated

1987 ( US developed THAAD after Iraq's Scud missile attacks during the 1991 Gulf War).

Deployment

May 2008.

Operational Interception

UAE - first operational interception of medium-range ballistic missile

Countries Deployed

United Arab Emirates, Israel, Romania, South Korea.

Missile Type

Kinetic Kill (Does not rely on warheads, uses kinetic energy for destruction).

Missile Range

Estimated 150-200 km.

Radar System

X-Band Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar.

Components

Six launcher vehicles with eight missiles each.

Two mobile Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs).

Ground-Based Radar (GBR).

System Integration

Interoperable with Aegis and Patriot missile defense systems, forming a three-layer defense system.

The Aegis ballistic missile defense system, also known as Sea-Based Midcourse, is a Missile Defense Agency program under the United States Department of Defense developed to provide missile defense against short and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. 

Patriot is a mobile interceptor missile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the primary such system used by the United States Army and several allied states. It is manufactured by the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon and derives its name from the radar component of the weapon system.

Key Technologies

Hit-to-Kill Technology (the kinetic energy of an interceptor destroys a missile by slamming into it.)

Kinetic Kill Mechanism (All kinetic weapons work by attaining a high flight speed — generally supersonic or even up to hypervelocity — and collide with their targets, converting its kinetic energy and relative impulse into destructive shock waves, heat and cavitation.) 

Infrared Scene Generation for Countermeasures (IRCM systems were introduced to confuse IR heat seekers using "always-on" modulated infrared radiation to create a hotter heat source than the aircraft's engines produced to re-direct the missile away from its intended target.)

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the THAAD Missile System:

1. It is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles during the terminal phase.
2. The missile interceptor uses kinetic energy to destroy incoming missiles and carry a warhead.
3. The missile system has been deployed by the US Army.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: THAAD is an advanced US anti-ballistic missile system designed to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range missiles.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Its interceptors rely on kinetic energy to destroy incoming missiles without carrying a warhead.

Statement 3 is correct: THAAD was originally a U.S. Army program but is now overseen by the Missile Defense Agency.