Defense & Security News - South Korea
 
United States has started the deployment of THAAD air defense missile system in South Korea.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017, the United States has started the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), in South Korea. The deployment came after new launches of four ballistic missiles by North Korea, Monday, March 6, 2017.
     
Tuesday, March 7, 2017, the United States has started the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), in South Korea. The deployment came after new launchs of four ballistic missiles by North Korea, Monday, March 6, 2017.
The first elements of the US-built Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) arriving at Osan US Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul (Print screen video footage of US Forces in South Korea,)
     
U.S. Defense Department officials detected and tracked multiple missile launches out of North Korea on March 6, 2017, four of which landed in the Sea of Japan, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters this morning.

According a spokeswoman from the United States armed forces, the five major components of the THAAD air defense missile system arrived on Monday, March 6, 2017 in South Korea by military transport aircraft. "It could take a couple of month for the THAAD to become fully operations", said U.S. officials.

North Korea’s repeated nuclear and ballistic missile tests have underscored the importance of the Alliance decision to deploy THAAD. Work continues to operationalize THAAD as quickly as possible.
“The timely deployment of the THAAD system by U.S. Pacific Command and the Secretary of Defense gives my command great confidence in the support we will receive when we ask for reinforcement or advanced capabilities,” said Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, U.S. Forces Korea commander.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a United States Army anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate range ballistic missiles at ranges of 200 km and at altitudes up to 150 km.

American Company Lockheed Martin is the THAAD prime contractor and systems integrator for four major components: a radar; a fire control and communications unit; launchers and interceptors. Since November 2005 the THAAD program has achieved a 100 percent mission success record in 11 flight test missions, including six successful intercepts of threat representative targets.

A production contract for the first two THAAD Batteries was awarded to Lockheed Martin in late 2006. Production of the THAAD launcher and fire control and communications unit is underway at Lockheed Martin's manufacturing facility in Camden, AR, and interceptor production is being conducted at Lockheed Martin's Pike County Facility in Troy, AL. Delivery of the first Fire Unit is scheduled for later this year.

THAAD comprises a fire control and communications system, interceptors, launchers and a radar. The THAAD interceptor uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and THAAD is the only weapon system that engages threat ballistic missiles at both endo- and exo-atmospheric altitudes.
     
Tuesday, March 7, 2017, the United States has started the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), in South Korea. The deployment came after new launchs of four ballistic missiles by North Korea, Monday, March 6, 2017.
The first elements of the US-built Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) arriving at Osan US Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul (Print screen video footage of US Forces in South Korea,)