New Arrow in the BMDS Quiver

Written by Erin Flynn Jay

THAAD is poised for an activity-filled 2009. THAAD is a stateof- the art integrated weapon system that has a 100 percent mission success record. THAAD’s 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. THAAD is designed to defend warfighters, population centers and critical infrastructure against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

A key element of the nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program, with the program office located in Huntsville, Ala. The agency is developing a BMDS to defend the United States, its deployed forces, friends and allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases of flight.

The BMDS, now in development, testing and initial deployment and operations, is currently or will be capable of providing a layered defense for the U.S. homeland, its deployed forces, friends and allies against ballistic missiles of all ranges in all phases of flight. The higher- altitude and theaterwide protection offered by THAAD provides more protection of larger areas than lower-tier systems like Patriot alone. THAAD can be transported by air to wherever it is needed worldwide, and consists of radar, fire control unit, missile launchers and interceptor missiles.

Lockheed Martin, a leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, is prime contractor and systems integrator for the THAAD weapon system.

After a series of nine successful flight test events and five intercepts, the program continues to push forward in testing. Lockheed Martin began testing in late 2005 at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), N.M. The 3rd flight test (FTT-03)—which was the first test with an intercept as an objective—resulted in a success. Since then, the program has transitioned the test program from WSMR to a larger test site at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) and experienced three more successful intercepts of unitary targets.

“The Lockheed Martin team is working with the MDA to develop and prove, through rigorous testing, next-generation systems that answer challenges presented by the very real threats we face today and the even more challenging threats we will face in the future,” said John Holly, Lockheed Martin vice president of Huntsville operations.

THAAD program will continue to test against more stressing mission scenarios through 2011. And, while the program is engaged in flight testing, Lockheed Martin is building hardware for deliveries of batteries 1 and 2 to the U.S. Army. These batteries were put on contract to Lockheed Martin in late 2006, and today the company is on track to deliver Battery Number 1 to the warfighter at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 2009, with Battery Number 2 delivered about a year later.

Soldiers from the 32nd Air and Missile Defense Command are training on equipment today. When deliveries for Battery 1 are complete, the unit will have 24 THAAD interceptors, three launchers, a fire control unit and a radar. Additionally, the battery will have logistics support assets, such as the Battery Support Center and Integrated Contractor Support System, with necessary spares for a fielded unit.

FIRST SUCCESSFUL INTERCEPT

In June 2008, THAAD achieved its first successful intercept of a separated target in the mid-endoatmosphere (inside the earth’s atmosphere). The separated target represented a new target class over the unitary targets previously used, and the test successfully demonstrated the system’s ability to detect, track, discriminate and intercept against separated targets.

Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency former director, announced the completion of this successful “hit to kill” intercept in partnership with the U.S. Army for the THAAD missile defense test element at the PMRF.

Preliminary indications are that planned flight test objectives were achieved. This test involved the intercept of a separating target (mock warhead separated from the booster rockets) in the mid-endoatmosphere. The target, representing a threat ballistic missile, was launched from an Air Force C-17 flying over the Pacific Ocean. Approximately six minutes later, the interceptor missile was launched from a mobile THAAD launcher on the range facility. This was the 35th successful hit-to-kill intercept of 43 attempts in the atmosphere and in space since 2001, and was the 29th of 30 successful tests conducted since September 2005.

This was the fifth successful intercept for the current THAAD program in five attempts. A sixth test was conducted in September 2006 at WSMR, but was not completed due to a failure of the target missile after it was launched.

The primary objective of this highly operationally realistic test was to demonstrate target acquisition, tracking and aimpoint selection by the avionics software contained in the THAAD interceptor, and to intercept a separating target. Another objective was to observe the effects of an interceptor launch on adjacent missile canisters in the THAAD launcher. The ability of soldiers to conduct launcher, fire control and radar operations was also observed.

Using current tactics, techniques and procedures developed by the Army Air Defense School, soldiers, for the first time in a THAAD test, manually engaged the target using the systems semiautomatic mode. Soldiers operating the equipment were not aware of actual target launch time. All of these factors provided increased operational realism to the test.

FIRST THAAD BATTERY ACTIVATED

In May 2008, the Army activated its first THAAD battery at Fort Bliss. In preparation for full-system fielding this year, the Alpha Battery/4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was unit-trained on THAAD equipment. The activation of the first THAAD ballistic missile defense interceptor missile unit of the Army was recognized during a ceremony that month at Fort Bliss.

The ceremony marked the establishment of an operational Army unit that will include soldiers who are undergoing new equipment training on THAAD and who will ultimately work to field the system. Alpha Battery/4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, will receive 24 THAAD interceptors, three launchers, a fire control and communications unit and a radar.

The commander of the new battery is Captain Curtis Zervic. Soldiers in the newly established battery have been training on the THAAD equipment and will continue their training through the middle of 2009.

THAAD has undergone several years of rigorous testing, designed to push the system into increasingly stressful and operationally realistic scenarios. Since the current round of testing began, THAAD has intercepted every target it has flown against. When fielded, the mobile THAAD system will be the only defensive weapon that can destroy incoming ballistic missiles both inside and just outside the earth’s atmosphere.

It will provide protection to deployed troops around the world, and other important assets and population centers against short- to medium- range ballistic missiles in the terminal, or final phase of flight. Since November 2005 the THAAD weapon system program has achieved the following:

• November 2005: Successful missile-only flight test

• May 2006: Successful integration of the THAAD weapon system including the fire control system, radar, launcher and interceptor

• July 2006: Successful first unitary target intercept in the high endoatmosphere

• September 2006: Mission designated a “no-test” when the target malfunctioned and was destroyed by WSMR Range Safety before the interceptor was launched; excellent THAAD ground data was acquired throughout the target anomaly.

• January 2007: Successful high endoatmospheric intercept of a Scud-like unitary target in THAAD’s first flight test at the PMRF

• April 2007: Successful intercept of a Scud-like unitary target at mid-endoatmosphere

• June 2007: Successful missile-only flight test in low endoatmosphere

• October 2007: Successful intercept of a Scud-like unitary target in the exoatmosphere

• June 2008: Successful intercept of a separating target in the midendoatmosphere

THAAD-AEGIS BMD INTEROPERABILITY

Aegis BMD is the primary component of the sea-based element of the United States’ BMD system. The Aegis weapon system, upon which Aegis BMD is based, is the maritime weapon system of choice for the United States, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Spain and Australia.

The MDA and Navy have made a serious commitment to test and train as they will operate in a BMD scenario. An important component of this evolving doctrine has been the ability of Aegis BMD to conduct advanced engineering on exchanging track data with the THAAD program.

Indeed, the BMD community’s efforts to integrate the the systems started during a December 2006 flight test missile event. During that mission, THAAD acquired the short-range ballistic missile and exchanged data with an Aegis BMD destroyer throughout the flight.

THAAD operators continued to regularly exchange tracking data and complete other command and control tasks with their USS Ticonderoga (CG-47)-class and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51)-class BMDS teammates during follow-on flight test events. These joint efforts have contributed to the evolution of the MDA’s command and contol, battle management and communications (C2BMC) program, the centerpiece of an integrated, layered missile defense.

RAYTHEON RADAR INTEGRATION

The first AN/TPY-2 radar was shipped to WSMR and first performed as a radar on March 24, 2004. Within three weeks the first satellite track occurred. “Since the radar was shipped early and was operational more than 18 months before the first THAAD flight test, Raytheon was able to participate as an observer in over 15 targets of opportunity at WSMR,” said Stephen M. Stanvick, director, AN/ TPY-2 programs, national and theater security programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

Tests included PAC-3 engagements with as many as two targets and four interceptors in one mission, as well as Orion, Lance and Black Brant missile fly outs. By the time of the first THAAD flight test in November 2005 (an interceptor-only fly-out test with the radar observing), the radar had been fully checked out.

“During this 18 month interval, the radar was integrated with THAAD weapon system with hardly any issues due to the test program described above. In addition, one area of integration risk had been identified early in the program and that was the communication of the radar with the interceptor,” said Stanvick.

Preplanned lab testing at Raytheon and captive carry testing at WSMR (where the missile transponder was flown in an airplane) prior to the first THAAD flight test assured the success of this communication. The first flight test when an intercept was possible with the full up THAAD weapon system was THAAD flight test 3. The intercept was successful.

“To date, there have been nine flight tests with radar participation and the radar has performed flawlessly on all nine flight tests,” said Stanvick. “All five possible intercepts have been achieved giving THAAD and the radar a 100 percent success rate. Raytheon and Lockheed foresaw all potential challenges and planned for them, thus assuring the highly successful test program we have seen to date.”

AN/TPY-2’s are currently deployed at locations around the world defending the United States and allies around the clock with NoDoubt Mission Assurance. ♦

Back to Top