Terminal High Altitude Area Defense

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Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is an American anti-ballistic missile defense system, deployed since 2008, designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (descent or reentry). The THAAD interceptor carries no warhead, instead relying on its kinetic energy of impact to destroy the incoming missile. THAAD was developed after the experience of Iraq's Scud missile attacks during the Gulf War in 1991. THAAD has an operational range of 200 km. Each battery consists of six transporter erector launcher trucks with eight launch tubes each, 48 interceptors, one AN/TPY-2 transportable radar, three control stations, and a crew of 90 soldiers. The control stations connect to the US C2BMC communications system, integrating THAAD into a layered air defense architecture alongside the longer-range Ground-Based Interceptor, the similar-range Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System...

Read on Wikipedia · Image The U.S. Army Ralph Scott/Missile Defense Agency/U.S. Department of Defense, Public domain