Know all about United States THAAD, air defence system that angered China

The United States and China’s defence clash has taken a new turn. The US built advanced offensive and defensive weaponry and has the ability to destroy the biggest advanced ballistic missiles. This weapon is Thaad, an air missile defence system. This infuriated China as it considers US defence system as a threat to its territories and security interests.  

The US air defence system has highly advanced capabilities of intercepting short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. THAAD-Terminal High Altitude Area Defense was earlier called Theater High Altitude Area Defense. It is the only air defence system by the US that can obstruct air weaponry within and outside the earth's atmosphere. The high altitude defence system has been improved to adapt to new threats.  

Thaad is designed in a most unique and modern way as it does not include a warhead but deploys kinetic energy to crash ballistic missiles during their terminal or reentry phase. 

The US deployed the THAAD system in US allied nations like Isreal, South Korea, Romania and the United Aram Emirates. However, the deployment in South Korea led China to voice against the move. The system was scheduled for deployment in 2012 but was preponed to May 2008. The US initiated its development after 1991 Gulf War.  

THAAD’s first operational interception took place in January 2022. It was successful in shooting down a medium-range ballistic missile that Yemen's Houthi rebels fired in the direction of the UAE.  

THAAD- strengths and working 

When using kinetic energy it uses brute force to kill incoming ballistic missiles during two phases, the terminal phase and the final stage. It has four crucial components- a fire control system that manages the launch and targeting of interceptors, a launch vehicle that carries and launches the interceptors, a radar that tracks and detects incoming aerial threats within an 870–3,000 km range, and interceptor missiles that eliminate the aerial threats. 

It has an impressive range of 200 km and high-altitude range of upto 150 km. It has an attached radar- X-Band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), Communication Support Equipment, truck launcher and THAAD Fire Control.