MDA

October 5, 2011 - A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during the system's first operational test at 1:56 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time Oct. 5 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was conducted by the Ballistic Missile Defense System Operational Test Agency with the support of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. During the test the THAAD system engaged and simultaneously intercepted two ballistic missile targets.

Launch

Launch

October 5, 2011 - A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during the system's first operational test at 1:56 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time Oct. 5 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was conducted by the Ballistic Missile Defense System Operational Test Agency with the support of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. During the test the THAAD system engaged and simultaneously intercepted two ballistic missile targets.

June 28, 2010 - The Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army soldiers of the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas, successfully conducted an intercept test for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense element of the nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System. A target missile was launched at approximately 9:32 p.m. Hawaii time, June 28 (3:32 a.m. EDT, June 29), and about five minutes later a THAAD interceptor missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Launch

Launch

Launch

June 28, 2010 - The Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army soldiers of the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas, successfully conducted an intercept test for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense element of the nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System. A target missile was launched at approximately 9:32 p.m. Hawaii time, June 28 (3:32 a.m. EDT, June 29), and about five minutes later a THAAD interceptor missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

October 21, 2009 - Selected THAAD Photos

AN/TPY-2 THAAD Radar

March 17, 2009 - On March 17, 2009 the THAAD missile defense element completed a successful intercept of a ballistic missile target at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Preliminary indications are that planned flight test objectives were achieved. THAAD is a mobile system now in development designed to intercept short to medium range ballistic missiles. Soldiers of the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade conducted launcher, fire control and radar operations, using tactics, techniques and procedures developed by the U.S. Army Air Defense School.

Launch

March 17, 2009 - The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense element completed a successful intercept of a ballistic missile target at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Preliminary indications are that planned flight test objectives were achieved. THAAD is a mobile system now in development designed to intercept short to medium range ballistic missiles. Soldiers of the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade conducted launcher, fire control and radar operations, using tactics, techniques and procedures developed by the U.S. Army Air Defense School.

June 25, 2008 - On June 25, 2008 the THAAD element completed another successful test involving the intercept of a separating target inside the earth’s atmosphere. 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.

Launch

Launch

June 25, 2008 - The THAAD element completed another successful test involving the intercept of a separating target inside the earth's atmosphere. 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.

Oct. 27, 2007 - On October 27, 2007 a ballistic missile target was successfully intercepted off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Preliminary indications are that planned flight test objectives were achieved. The intercept involved the "exo-atmospheric" "hit to kill" destruction of a unitary (non-separating) target representing a "SCUD"-type ballistic missile launched from a mobile platform positioned off Kauai in the Pacific Ocean. The interceptor was launched from the THAAD launch complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

Launch

June 27, 2007 - On June 27, 2007 a test involved the launch and "fly-out" of a THAAD interceptor missile in a highly stressing low-endosphere (inside the atmosphere) environment. This was the lowest altitude fly-out of a THAAD interceptor to date, and demonstrated its ability to operate in a high-dynamic pressure environment with aero heating effects.

April 6, 2007 - On April 6, 2007 a successful intercept was achieved for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile defense element at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. This test involved the successful intercept of a "mid endo-atmospheric" (inside earth's atmosphere) unitary (non-separating) target representing a "SCUD"-type ballistic missile launched from a mobile platform positioned off Kauai in the Pacific Ocean.

Launch

Jan. 27, 2007 - On January 27, 2007 a successful launch was achieved of a THAAD interceptor missile. This test involved the successful intercept of a "high endo-atmospheric" (just inside earth's atmosphere) unitary (non-separating) target representing a "SCUD"-type ballistic missile launched from a mobile platform positioned off Kauai in the Pacific Ocean. The interceptor was launched from the THAAD launch complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF). This was the first test of the THAAD system at PMRF since equipment was moved to the range in October, 2006.

Launch

Oct. 27, 2007 - A ballistic missile target was successfully intercepted off the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The interceptor was launched from the THAAD launch complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

June 27, 2007 - A test involved the launch and "fly-out" of a THAAD interceptor missile in a highly stressing low-endosphere (inside the atmosphere) environment. This was the lowest altitude fly-out of a THAAD interceptor to date, and demonstrated its ability to operate in a high-dynamic pressure environment with aero heating effects.

July 12, 2006 - On July 12, 2006 a successful launch was achieved of a THAAD interceptor missile. The primary test objective was to demonstrate interceptor seeker characterization of a ballistic missile target in the high-endoatmosphere (just inside the earth's atmosphere). A unitary (non-separating) Hera target missile was launched for the test and although it was not a primary objective, a successful intercept of the target occurred.

Launch

Intercept

May 11, 2006 - On May 11, 2006 a successful launch was achieved of a THAAD interceptor missile. This was a fully integrated flight test of all THAAD components, including the mobile launcher, radar, fire control and communications element and the interceptor missile.

Launch

Launch

July 12, 2006 - On July 12, 2006 a successful launch was achieved of a THAAD interceptor missile. The primary test objective was to demonstrate interceptor seeker characterization of a ballistic missile target in the high-endoatmosphere (just inside the earth's atmosphere). A unitary (non-separating) Hera target missile was launched for the test and although it was not a primary objective, a successful intercept of the target occurred.

Nov. 22, 2005 - On November 22, 2005 a successful launch was achieved of a THAAD interceptor missile. This test starts a new round of THAAD developmental testing that builds on the investment from earlier THAAD tests, which included two consecutive target intercepts in 1999. It is the first missile defense system that is capable of intercepting a target missile both inside and outside the atmosphere.

The Missile Defense Agency's THAAD System constitutes the upper tier of a two-tiered defense against tactical ballistic missiles, and provides broad area coverage against threats to military forces and critical assets, such as population centers and industrial resources. THAAD consists of four segments defined as missile round, launcher, Battle Management/Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (BM/C3I) and radar. This weapons system is designed to perform its mission in a centralized, decentralized, or autonomous mode. Deployable to theaters of operation using strategic military air, ground and ship transport, this weapon system provides off-the-shelf technology in a mobile configuration.

IFT-11 Launch

Post-Launch
Maneuvers

Intercept
Sequence

IFT-10 Launch

Post-Launch
Maneuvers

Intercept
Sequence

Seeker
Imaging

June 10, 1999 - THAAD Test

Flight Test 5

March 22, 1996 - THAAD Test

Flight 4

FTV-01

Flight 3

Flight 3

Flight 2

THAAD
Battery
Activation

THAAD Launcher

White Sands Deployment

Divert and Attitude Control Thrusters

Launcher

Launcher

THAAD Radar

Radar Antenna Element and Electronics

THAAD System

User Operational Evaluation System THAAD Missile Configuration

Dec. 31, 1995 - THAAD Test

April 27, 1995 - THAAD Test