What is the THAAD antimissile system that the US is sending Israel?

In its latest circular of subject assistance to Israel, the United States volition nonstop its precocious Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) rocket defence system.

The US volition besides nonstop soldiers to run the system, the Pentagon said connected Sunday.

It is unclear erstwhile the deployment volition instrumentality place.

Here’s wherefore the US is deploying the THAAD strategy successful Israel now:

What is the THAAD system?

THAAD is an precocious rocket defence strategy that uses a operation of radar and interceptors to thwart short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Its missiles person a scope of 150 to 200km (93 to 124 miles), and the strategy is made by US defence and aerospace shaper Lockheed Martin.

It tin intercept missiles wrong and extracurricular Earth’s ambiance during their last signifier of flight, which begins erstwhile the detached warhead re-enters Earth’s ambiance and ends upon detonation, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

How does the THAAD strategy work?

According to an April study by the Congressional Research Service, THAAD batteries usually are made up of 95 soldiers, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors – 8 for each launcher – 1 radar system, and a occurrence power and communications component.

The fig of launchers and interceptors tin vary.

THAADs bash not transportation an explosive warhead, which allows them to scope precocious altitudes quickly. Rather than exploding connected interaction with incoming ballistic missiles to neutralise them, THAAD interceptors usage kinetic vigor – the vigor generated done its wide being successful question – to acceptable disconnected the missile.

What it cannot bash is fend disconnected smaller, simpler weapons specified arsenic drones utilized by groups including Hamas and Yemen’s Houthis, Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna reported from Washington, DC. This is due to the fact that the drones are tiny and bash not attack from a precocious altitude.

(Al Jazeera)

How overmuch does it cost?

One THAAD artillery costs from $1bn to $1.8bn, according to Hanna.

How galore THAAD batteries are there?

According to the Congressional Research Service report, the US service has deployed 7 THAAD batteries, including to South Korea and Guam.

Does Israel already person THAAD batteries?

According to a connection published by the US Department of Defense connected Sunday, the US antecedently deployed a THAAD artillery to confederate Israel successful 2019 “for grooming and an integrated aerial defence exercise”.

However, this artillery was taken backmost to the US aft the exercise, Hanna said.

The connection added that the US deployed a THAAD artillery successful the Middle East “to support American troops and interests successful the region” aft the Hamas attacks connected Israel connected October 7, 2023, without specifying the state it was deployed to.

Israel’s aerial defences presently usage 3 systems: The Iron Dome intercepts short-range missiles from 4 to 70km (2.5 to 43.5 miles), David’s Sling intercepts medium-range missiles from 40 to 300km (24.5 to 186 miles) and the Arrow System intercepts long-range missiles up to 2,400km (1,491 miles) away.

Hanna said the THAAD and Iron Dome systems tin enactment unneurotic to support from a higher altitude and minimise harm from a longer distance.

Why is the US sending the strategy to Israel now?

“In the past Iranian attack, Iran improvised thing we had ne'er seen before,” subject expert Elijah Magnier said, referring to Iran’s attack connected Israel connected October 1 erstwhile it fired astir 200 missiles connected large cities and towns.

Iran launched the missiles “into 3 corridors, oregon 3 locations, making it intolerable for immoderate interceptor to bound them all”, Magnier said.

Iranian authorities media said Fattah hypersonic ballistic missiles were utilized for the archetypal time, a assertion Al Jazeera was incapable to independently verify.

Fattah, unveiled successful 2023, is simply a rocket the US has ne'er travel up against, and Washington wants to “test” whether THAAD tin intercept it, Magnier said.

On Sunday, a connection said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorised the deployment of a THAAD strategy to Israel to assistance boost the country’s aerial defences.

“This enactment underscores the United States’ ironclad committedness to the defence of Israel … from immoderate further ballistic rocket attacks by Iran,” the connection added.

Why are US soldiers coming with it?

“The [THAAD] systems are truthful analyzable that it requires a unit of 94 to run – a trained unit of 94 – and these volition beryllium US soldiers,” Hanna reported from Washington, DC.

Magnier explained that the US forces are accompanying the THAAD strategy due to the fact that they are trained to run it and determination is nary clip to bid the Israeli army.

While it is uncertain erstwhile the THAAD volition get successful Israel, “once the THAAD arrives, immoderate clip would beryllium bully for Israel to motorboat the onslaught and Iran’s absorption would not beryllium imminent,” Magnier said.

He added that the soldiers mightiness instrumentality to the US if Iran launches an onslaught connected Israel.

A THAAD interceptor is launched successful Kodiak, Alaska [File: Handout/Leah Garton/Missile Defense Agency via Reuters]

Could Israel person much THAAD batteries successful the future?

The is unlikely, Hanna said.

This is due to the fact that the THAAD covers a wide country and 1 artillery is capable for Israel’s size, particularly fixed the presumption that the missiles volition deed Israel from Iran only, helium explained.

Additionally, the THAAD is simply a constricted assets for the US, and manufacturing much batteries takes time, Hanna said, likening the analyzable manufacturing process to that of a pitchy airliner.

However, interceptor missiles are easier to replenish.