The United States sent its advanced anti-missile system to Israel. According to the United States Secretary of Defense, lloyd austinAccording to Reuters, the team is already “established“. However, Austin did not specify whether the so-called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system was operational. “He just said that.”We have the ability to reverse it very quickly and we are moving at the pace of our expectations.“.
US deploys anti-aircraft system in Israel to counter Iran's ballistic missiles#America will send to #Israel The THAAD anti-missile defense system strengthens Iran's ability to respond to possible attacks. The measure “underlines the strong commitment… pic.twitter.com/lmc0fX9zQR
—DW Español (@dw_espanol) October 14, 2024
THAAD system capacity
THAAD is one of the US military's most advanced missile defense systems. Capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at ranges of 150 to 200 kilometers, the system had a near-perfect success rate in testing. It integrates high-tech radars with interceptors that destroy short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles in their final stages of flight inside and outside the atmosphere.
THAAD interceptors are kinetic type, meaning they eliminate the threat by hitting the target directly rather than detonating nearby. The Congressional Research Service reports that the United States has seven THAAD batteries, each equipped with six truck-mounted launchers and eight interceptors per launcher. The suite includes an advanced radar system and a fire control and communications center.
One of these batteries was sent to Israel to reinforce its already strong anti-missile defenses, especially after Iran's recent attacks on April 13 and October 1, the Pentagon announced. In addition to the equipment, about 100 American soldiers were sent to operate the system on Israeli soil.
Integration with other systems.
THAAD batteries have a command and control system that allows integration with other US missile defenses. These include the Aegis system, which typically equips warships, and the Patriot system, which is intended to intercept short-range targets. Although these systems are relatively common, according to Biden administration sources, the presence of THAAD reinforces the importance of the operation in Israel.
The THAAD system can be carried by the US Air Force's C-17 and C-5 cargo planes, but the Pentagon has not yet announced when it will be fully operational in Israel.
Technical precision
The accuracy of the THAAD system is ensured by the AN/TPY-2 radar, which can be installed on land and on US ships. This advanced radar is capable of detecting missiles with a range of up to 3,000 km. In terminal mode, it follows the targets during the descent phase, according to the missile defense program. Since Iran is located about 1,700 kilometers from Israel, the organization is willing to provide additional security.
THAAD does not operate in isolation. As a CNN military analyst explained, Cedric LeightonThe system must work.”Prohibition“Additional security against possible attacks on Israeli territory. “When implemented in practice, it will really add a layer to Israel's air and missile defenses.”said a former US Air Force colonel.
According to the Strategic and International Missile Threat Studies Program, testing of THAAD products has never failed to intercept targets.
