After audacious missile attacks by Iran against Israel earlier this month, the United States is now bolstering its ally’s air defence systems. It will send its troops to Israel along with an advanced anti-missile system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense or THAAD.
Ironclad Commitment, Says U.S.
In a statement, the Pentagon said the THAAD battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defence system.
This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defence of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran, it added.
It is part of the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months. The idea is to support the defence of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias, said Maj Gen Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary.
Unusual Move
This is a highly unusual move by America. The last time it deployed a THAAD battery to Israel was in 2019. But that was for training and an integrated air defence exercise.
Israel has robust and multi-layered air defence capabilities. Recently, the U.S. aided Israel’s defence from warships and fighter jets located outside the country.
What’s THAAD?
It is a critical part of the U.S. military’s layered air defence systems. A THAAD battery comes with six truck mounted launchers. There are eight interceptors on each launcher, and a powerful radar. Each battery usually needs about 100 troops to operate it.
U.S. arms maker Lockheed Martin builds and integrates the THAAD system. It’s a ground-based system designed to shoot down short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. And it destroys enemy missiles just before they hit their targets.
It is interoperable with other ballistic missile defence systems and has a long range, between 150 to 200 kilometres. And is the only U.S. system designed to intercept targets outside and inside the atmosphere, says Lockheed Martin.
