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Terminal High Altitude Area DefenseTerminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD - formerly "Theater High Altitude Area Defense") is a United States Army project to develop a anti-ballistic missile defense system, against theater or regional threats. THAAD is intended to destroy incoming missiles by firing its own interceptor missile at the threat. The THAAD missile carries no explosives and destroys incoming missiles by colliding with them, utilizing hit-to-kill-technology, unlike similar systems such as the MIM-104 Patriot. The THAAD system was designed to handle short and medium range ballistic missiles; such as Scuds and derived weapons. However, some limited residual capability against ICBMs exists. THAAD missiles have an estimated range of 125 miles (200 km), and can reach a maximum altitude of 93 miles (150 km). The system is being developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) and Raytheon. Development of the THAAD system is budgeted at over $700 million for 2004, and full deployment is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. The THAAD demonstration program (called DEM-VAL) ran from August 1992 til August 2000, conducting several flight tests at White Sands Missile Range. After early failed intercepts, the most recent flight tests resulted in successful intercepts on June 10, 1999 and August 2, 1999. The next program phase was to transform the successful design and lessons learned into a mobile tactical army fire unit. This program phase was originally called Engineering-Manufacturing-and-Development (EMD) and awarded August 2000. Flight tests of this system are scheduled to resume with missile characterization and full up system tests in 2005 at WSMR, then move to the Pacific Missile Range Facility test area in 2006. Although originally an US army program, THAAD has come under the missile defense umbrella of the Missile Defense Agency. Compare to a similar program; the Navy, sea based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. External links
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