The agency said THAAD, deployed with the U.S. Army, intercepted a
short-range ballistic missile inside the earth's atmosphere during a test
over the Pacific Ocean. This marked the first low endo-atmosphere
interception by THAAD, designed to protect against intermediate- and
long-range ballistic missiles such as those deployed by Iran and North
Korea.
"The intercept occurred at the lowest altitude to date for the THAAD
interceptor missile, which has the capability to engage targets both inside
and outside the earth's atmosphere," the agency said.
Officials said the low endo-atmosphere intercept has proven the
expansion of THAAD's missile defense envelope. They said the system, with
seven straight intercepts, was being programmed to stop missile salvos, a
capability developed by Iran and North Korea.
The latest test also demonstrated interoperability between THAAD and the
PAC-3 low-tier missile defense system. Officials said PAC-3 provided back-up
for engagement and coordination as well as identified and measured the
debris of the incoming missile.
Officials said the objectives of the latest THAAD test included
integration and interception of a target at a "highly stressing angle."
Other objectives were described as target acquisition and aimpoint selection
by the interception's seeker, radar and fire control.
"The system [THAAD] continues to undergo development and testing to
provide a robust layered defense against ballistic missiles of all ranges in
all phases of flight," the agency said.
THAAD has been developed and marketed by Lockheed Martin. For the first
time, L-M said, the latest test also demonstrated what executives termed
automatic engagement coordination between THAAD and Patriot.
"THAAD is the only missile defense system with the operational
flexibility to intercept in both the endo- and exo-atmospheres to provide
versatile capability to the warfighter," L-M said.
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