New Delhi: The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), which the United States has decided to send to Israel, intercepts and destroys ballistic missiles in their final phase of flight. It is the “only US system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere”, according to developer Lockheed Martin.
The United States announced the deployment of the THAAD battery, along with troops who can operate it, to Israel after President Joe Biden directed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to authorise Israel’s use of the missile defence system amid the crisis in West Asia.
The move is being seen as a significant show of support to Israel as it continues a ground invasion in Gaza and Lebanon.
Interoperable with other ballistic missile defences, the THAAD defends population centres and high-value infrastructure, according to Lockheed Martin. Highly mobile and deployable worldwide, the THAAD system uses the ‘hit-to-kill’ technology to enable its lethal aim-point accuracy against short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
The THAAD battery has five main components — a radar, a fire control unit, interceptors, launchers, and support equipment. The radar detects the incoming threat and identifies the target. Next, the launcher fires the interceptor, whose kinetic energy destroys the incoming missile. One battery typically consists of nine launchers and can load up to 72 interceptor missiles.
The THAAD system can intercept missiles at altitudes of 40-150 km and for ranges of up to 200 km. One of the main features of the THAAD system is high firepower to counter mass raids with tactical reload timelines measured in minutes, according to Lockheed Martin.
One of the main elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), the THAAD system is interoperable with other BMDS elements such as Patriot, PAC-3, Aegis, forward-based sensors, and the Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system, enabling the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) mission capabilities.
For Israel, the deployment comes after it recently retired its Patriot systems after 40 years of use.
Apart from the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and South Korea have the THAAD system.
Also Read: US approves sale of lightweight torpedoes to arm Indian Navy’s Romeos
‘Ironclad commitment to Israel’
Saying the THAAD Battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defence system, a US statement said, “This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defence of Israel and to defend Americans in Israel from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.”
The statement called Iran’s missile attacks against Israel on 13 April and again on October 1 “unprecedented” and said that the THAAD would “augment” Israel’s air defence system. On 1 October, Iran deployed nearly 200 missiles and managed to overwhelm Israel’s existing air defence system. Moreover, the latest drone attack by Hezbollah killed four IDF soldiers in Israel.
The US statement also said this was not the first time the US had deployed a THAAD battery to the region. “The President directed the military to deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following the 7 October attacks to defend American troops and interests in the region. The United States previously deployed a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated air defence exercise.”
The implication of the US sending the THAAD system to Israel is that Israel may attack Iran and is preparing to defend itself when Iran hits back, indicating a possible escalation of an already tense situation in West Asia.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: Amid concerns about use of Chinese parts in drones, Army general urges industry to be transparent
Can Rahul Gandhi go to USA and speak against this? Palestinians need support. He can take Kanhaiyya, some new JNU PhD students and experienced folks like Mani Shankar Aiyyar and Brinda Karat along. After all it is important India spend its efforts protecting criminals of October 7. It is justified to rape and murder because you were wronged.