Repeated Failures of THAAD... US Decides on Additional Deployment

[Researcher Junhee Choi, Command and Reconnaissance Research Team 2, Defense Technology Quality Institute] Lockheed Martin's orders are continuing to increase. Last year, sales rose in the fighter jet sector with F-35, F-16, and in the missile sector with THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and PAC-3. In particular, with the increase in F-35 sales, including a $22.7 billion contract signed in November 2018 with the U.S. Department of Defense to supply 225 F-35 fighter jets by 2023, operating profits have significantly improved.

Especially, the U.S. Department of Defense also signed an additional order contract for THAAD with Lockheed Martin. The contract amount is approximately $932.8 million. The THAAD missiles contracted this time will be deployed not only in the United States but also in Saudi Arabia. The contract involves the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) located in Huntsville, Alabama, requesting the missile and launch control division to manufacture single-use devices related to THAAD interceptor missiles. The THAAD missile system is divided into five components: launcher, interceptor, radar, THAAD Fire Control and Communications (TFCC) unit, and specific support equipment.

The THAAD interceptor missile uses a hit-to-kill kinetic warhead. It is designed to shoot down short-range, quasi-medium-range, and medium-range ballistic missiles during the terminal phase. The THAAD interceptor missile relies on kinetic energy impact to destroy incoming missiles.

The THAAD system, developed by Lockheed Martin starting in 1992, was not highly perfected from the beginning. During the first tests in 1995, all six ballistic missile defense tests failed. The first successful hit occurred in 1999. The THAAD missile uses the X-band radar produced by Raytheon’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense division located in Andover, Massachusetts. Boeing, Aerojet, Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Systems, and Milton CAT are also participating in the system production.

The U.S. Department of Defense first deployed THAAD in 2008. Since then, contracts have been signed for $553.2 million in December 2017, $459.2 million in January 2018, and $145.3 million in May 2018. Including this contract, the total amounts to $3.9 billion. Lockheed Martin plans to fully deploy the contracted THAAD systems by April 2026.

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