THAAD

From WikiCover

THAAD stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense.

THAAD is designed to defend U.S. troops, allied forces, population centers and critical infrastructure against short- to intermediate range ballistic missiles. THAAD comprises a fire control and communications system, interceptors, launchers and a radar. The THAAD interceptor uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and THAAD is the only weapon system that engages threat ballistic missiles at both endo- and exo-atmospheric altitudes.

A key element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program, with the program office located in Huntsville, Alabama. The agency is developing a BMDS to defend the United States, its deployed forces, friends and allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases of flight.

On October 27, 2007, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted a successful exo-atmospheric test of the THAAD Weapon System at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii. The flight test demonstrated the system's ability to detect, track and intercept an incoming unitary target above the Earth's atmosphere.

Preliminary data indicates the THAAD flight test successfully met all test objectives including demonstrating the successful integration of the radar, launcher, THAAD Fire Control and Communication (TFCC) and interceptor; exo- atmospheric intercept of a unitary target; and demonstrating the Interceptor's endgame capability in a highly stressing intercept scenario. The interceptor was conditioned "hot," meaning the interceptor was heated before testing. Hot conditioning demonstrates the interceptor's ability to operate in extreme environments. The remainder of THAAD flight testing will take place at PMRF through 2009.

A production contract for the first two fire units was awarded to Lockheed Martin in late 2006. Also, the THAAD program recently announced production of the THAAD launcher and fire control and communications unit will take place at Lockheed Martin's manufacturing facility in Camden, Arkansas. Interceptor production is conducted at Lockheed Martin's Pike County Facility in Troy, Alabama. Deliveries will support a First Unit Equipped in FY'09.