US Army takes delivery of first lot of THAAD interceptors

The US Army said last week it received its initial two Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense missile interceptors.

The Anniston Army Depot received the weapons on May 16 and placed them in storage, where they will stay unless required for deployment to troops in the field, according to an Army release.

The THAAD system is designed to intercept short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles using "hit to kill" weapons that are not tipped with explosive warheads.

THAAD

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a long-range, land-based theatre defence weapon that provides upper tier cover in a basic 2-tiered defence against ballistic missiles.

It's designed to intercept missiles in late mid-course or final stage flight, flying at high altitudes within (Endo) and even outside the atmosphere (Exo). Such capability allows it to provide broad area coverage to critical assets such as population centres and industrial resources as well as military forces.