Lockheed Martin has acquired a contract totaling $74 million to supply the Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection (THAAD) Weapon System for the Missile Protection Company (MDA). The award quantity covers the manufacturing of an eighth THAAD battery for the U.S. authorities. It’s anticipated to be fielded by 2025. The primary THAAD Battery (Alpha Battery, 4th Air Protection Artillery Regiment, eleventh Air Protection Artillery Brigade) was activated in Might 2008 and the seventh THAAD battery was activated by the U.S. Military in December 2016.
Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection (THAAD), previously Theater Excessive Altitude Space Protection, is an American anti-ballistic missile protection system designed to shoot down short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles of their terminal section (descent or reentry) by intercepting with a hit-to-kill method. The system makes use of Hit-to-Kill know-how to destroy a menace with direct influence neutralizing deadly payloads earlier than they attain protected belongings on the bottom. THAAD continues incremental functionality enhancements inside the weapon system to repeatedly enhance functionality in opposition to present and rising threats.
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“This award demonstrates the U.S. authorities’s continued confidence within the THAAD Weapon System and in its distinctive endo- and exo-atmospheric protection functionality,” stated Dan Nimblett, Vice President of Higher Tier Built-in Air and Missile Protection at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fireplace Management. “With 16 of 16 profitable flight take a look at intercepts and up to date fight success clearly documenting the effectiveness of THAAD, including an eighth battery will additional improve readiness in opposition to present and evolving ballistic missile threats.”
Initially a United States Military program, THAAD has come underneath the umbrella of the Missile Protection Company. The Navy has an analogous program, the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Protection System, which additionally has a land part (“Aegis ashore”). THAAD was initially scheduled for deployment in 2012, however preliminary deployment came about in Might 2008. THAAD has been deployed within the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Romania, and South Korea. On 17 January 2022, THAAD made its first operational interception, of an incoming medium-range ballistic missile within the UAE. The THAAD system is being designed, constructed, and built-in by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fireplace Management performing as prime contractor. Key subcontractors embody Raytheon, Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Methods, Oshkosh Protection, and MiltonCAT.
