THAAD Missile System

THAAD Missile System

• The United States utilized 15-20% of its THAAD missile inventory during a recent 12-day conflict involving Israeli and U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities.This deployment was aimed at bolstering defense against aerial threats from Iran during the conflict.

What is THAAD?

THAAD stands for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, an advanced U.S.-developed missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles during their terminal phase (final phase of flight). It is Developed after experiences with Iraq’s Scud missile attacks during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. A critical part of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) architecture. It is Unique for intercepting missiles both inside (endoatmospheric) and outside (exoatmospheric) the Earth’s atmosphere.

Features of THAAD Missile System

Radar System

• Equipped with an X-band radar—the world’s largest ground/air-transportable X-band radar.

• Can detect and track missile threats up to 1,000 km away.

Intercept Capability

• Designed to intercept short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

• Can engage targets both inside (endoatmospheric) and outside (exoatmospheric) the Earth’s atmosphere.

Command and Control

• Advanced command and control platform for coordinated defense.

• Allows mid-course updates to the interceptor missile during flight to improve accuracy.

Mobility

• Truck-mounted launchers and radar make the system mobile and rapidly deployable.

A missile is a guided, self-propelled weapon designed to deliver an explosive payload to a target. It uses a variety of guidance systems to track and hit targets, making it distinct from unguided projectiles or bombs.

Key Features of a Missile:

1. Guidance System: Directs the missile to its target with high accuracy.

2. Targeting System: Identifies and locks onto the target.

3. Flight System: Controls the missile's flight path.

4. Engine: Powers the missile, usually through a rocket motor or jet engine.

5. Warhead: Explosive payload that causes damage to the target.

Types of Missiles

1. Based on Speed:

• Subsonic: Slower than the speed of sound (Mach 1). E.g., Prithvi missile.

  Supersonic: Faster than Mach 1, but less than Mach 5. E.g., BrahMos missile.

  Hypersonic: Faster than Mach 5, used for high-speed, evasive maneuvers. E.g., BrahMos II (under development).

2. Based on Trajectory:

• Ballistic Missiles: Follow a parabolic trajectory. E.g., Agni and Prithvi series.

  Cruise Missiles: Fly within the atmosphere at constant speed. E.g., BrahMos.

  Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs): Travel at hypersonic speeds, often in space and re-enter the atmosphere to strike targets.

3. Based on Launch Mode:

• Surface-to-Surface: Launched from ground to strike land targets. E.g., Prithvi and Agni.

  Surface-to-Air: Launched from the ground to intercept airborne threats. E.g., Akash missile.

  Air-to-Surface: Fired from aircraft to hit ground targets. E.g., Helina anti-tank missile.

  Submarine-Launched: Fired from submerged submarines for strategic deterrence. E.g., K-15 Sagarika.

India’s Missile Systems

India has developed several advanced missile systems to bolster its defense capabilities, with strategic importance in maintaining national security and regional stability. These include:

1. Prithvi: Short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile.

2. Agni: Long-range ballistic missile series, including ICBM (Agni-V).

3. BrahMos: Supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed with Russia.

4. Akash: Surface-to-air missile for air defense.

5. K-series: Submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), completing India’s nuclear triad.