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The advanced THAAD air defense system that the United States is sending to Israel is a sign of how both countries are bracing for more attacks against Israel by Iran and its allies.
It adds another layer of protection to the several types of air defense systems that Israel already uses to shoot down missiles. Along with the THAAD battery, whose deployment the Pentagon announced on Sunday, about 100 American troops will go to Israel to operate it, putting U.S. service members closer to the heart of a widening Middle East war.
“It’s a political message of the United States to Israel that, ‘We are with you,’” said Yehoshua Kalisky, a military technology expert at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. “And to enemies, it’s: ‘Don’t.’”
Here is a look at the THAAD system and what it can do.
What is THAAD?
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is a mobile surface-to-air interceptor designed to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles. It is categorized as a short-, medium- and intermediate-range interceptor that can strike incoming targets both within the Earth’s atmosphere and above it.
The system is made up of five parts: Interceptor missiles, launchers, radar, a command-and-control platform, and other support equipment unique to the THAAD. There is no warhead on the missile, which destroys its targets by the force of its impact.
There are only nine active THAAD batteries in the world, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. Seven of them are assigned to the U.S. Army, and among other locations are deployed in Guam and South Korea. The battery that the Biden administration has ordered to Israel presumably would be among those seven.
Two others are being fielded in the United Arab Emirates.
The Pentagon announced almost a year ago that it was sending a THAAD battery to the Middle East to help protect Israel, but did not specify where it would be.
How will it be used?
Because it can reach above the atmosphere, the THAAD should be able to intercept ballistic missiles launched from Iran and Yemen, said Fabian Hinz, a missiles and Middle East expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. It can also shoot down shorter-range missiles launched by Hezbollah, in neighboring Lebanon.
Iran and its allies have also fired guided cruise missiles and drones, which operate at much lower altitudes and speeds than ballistic missiles.
Mr. Kalisky said the THAAD would be particularly useful in intercepting debris from other missiles that have been downed before it falls to the ground, where it can inflict casualties and damage infrastructure. (He also said the THAAD has an exceptional radar that can detect incoming missiles from farther distances.)
But Mr. Hinz said they would likely serve as another layer of urgently needed air defenses, given that some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli interceptors during a barrage earlier this month. Iran lies more than 500 miles from Israel.
“We have seen that the Iranian strategy is to fire large volleys in order to overwhelm Israeli defenses,” Mr. Hinz said. “If you have additional interception capability, that is quite useful.”
How is it different from Israel’s other air defense systems?
It’s largely a matter of range, meaning how far the missile can fly. The THAAD has a range of about 125 miles. Its launchers and command centers can be moved to different sites.
Mr. Kalisky compared the THAAD to one of Israel’s main defense systems, the David’s Sling, a stationary weapon at a fixed location that can shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles. It has a range of about 185 miles and is also a “hit-to-kill” weapon that downs its targets by flying into it. The David’s Sling is jointly produced by Raytheon and Israeli weapons producer Rafael.
Then there is Israel’s Arrow series, which is produced by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing.
The Arrow 2 can intercept targets high in the atmosphere, with an altitude of about 30 miles and a range of about 60 miles. It has a fragmentation warhead packed with explosives that can blow up near incoming missiles even if it does not directly hit its targets.
The Arrow 3, another hit-to-kill weapon, can go beyond the atmosphere with a range of up to 1,500 miles. It is one of Israel’s most advanced defenses and was used to counter the Iranian strikes on Oct. 1. Both the Arrow 2 and the Arrow 3 are ground-based mobile launchers.
The Iron Dome system is perhaps the best known of Israel’s air defenses, largely because it is used more than the others. Its short-range interceptors — just 6 inches wide and 10 feet long — rely on miniature sensors and computerized guidance to zero in on short-range rockets. It is produced by Rafael, the Israeli defense contractor.
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