"The THAAD system continues to appeal to international countries as the
system is self-sufficient and is capable of protecting an entire country,"
Riki Ellison, president of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said.
"THAAD, as well as Aegis, will be required in addition to the European third
site in Poland and the Czech Republic to fully protect southern Europe,
Turkey and portions of the Middle East from a ballistic missile threat from
Iran."
"The primary objective of this test was to demonstrate integrated
operations of the system, including radar, launcher, fire control equipment
and procedures, and the interceptor to detect, track and destroy the target
missile using only the force of a direct collision between the interceptor
and the target missile — hit to kill technology," the U.S. Missile Defense
Agency said.
Officials said the interceptor was conditioned "hot," meaning the
interceptor was heated before testing. They said the hot conditioning
demonstrated the interceptor's ability to operate in extreme environments.
The remainder of THAAD flight testing was scheduled to take place through
2009.
Since November 2005, THAAD conducted seven successful flight tests.
Four of the tests resulted in successful intercepts.
In 2006, Lockheed Martin was awarded a production contract for the first
two fire units. The first unit was meant to be delivered in 2009.
"The THAAD Weapon System continues to prove its ability in both endo-
and exo-atmospheric environments," said Tom McGrath, program manager and
vice president for THAAD at Lockheed Martin. "No other missile defense
system in
the world can destroy tactical ballistic missiles outside and inside the
Earth's atmosphere."
Officials said the THAAD test was observed by military representatives
from Australia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. All three countries
have been examining an enhancement of their missile defense systems.
