THAAD Deployment
Initially, the THAAD program included plans for an early prototype system, called the User Operational Evaluation System, that could be used in a national emergency. The requirement to be able to quickly deploy an early prototype system diverted the contractor and government project management's attention away from the normal interceptor development process and resulted in interceptors that were not equipped with sufficient instruments to provide optimum test data. Because of the requirement for a User Operational Evaluation System, the program used parallel testing to save time rather than best practices, such as a sequential find-and-fix approach.
The THAAD Program was restructured in 1996, though there was a decision to keep the UOES portion of the program on track. DOD planned to be able to deploy an initial limited THAAD UOES capability in the second quarter of FY 1999 should a contingency arise. The final UOES capability would include about 40 missiles and two radars, which will be used for user testing, but which could be maintained in theater if needed.
The Army established a THAAD User Operational Evaluation System battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 1995. The User Operational Evaluation System - an early prototype version of the final THAAD system - was intended to (1) allow military users to influence the THAAD system design, (2) permit an early operational assessment of the system's capabilities, and (3) provide a system that could be deployed in a national emergency. The initial plan called for the prototype system to have 40 interceptors; 4 launchers; 2 radars; 2 battle management/command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence units; and associated support equipment. Except for the interceptors, these components were acquired and delivered to the THAAD battalion under the existing program definition and risk reduction contract at little or no additional cost. Under the initial plan, the 40 interceptors were to be produced after the first successful intercept test at an estimated cost of $225 million.
The fiscal year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act required a contingency capability-THAAD UOES-by fiscal year 1998. UOES will consist of 40 interceptors; 4 launchers; 2 radars; 2 battle management/command, control, and intelligence units; and associated support equipment. The airlift requirement for UOES will be significant. The Army estimated that to transport the full system with 40 interceptors from the United States to a theater of operation will require up to 18 C-5, 26 C-17, or 40 C-141 flights. The Army estimates that a UOES initial force, or "minimum launch capability," including 1 radar, 2 launchers, and 20 interceptors, could be deployed with 7 C-5, 9 C-17, or 13 C-141 flights.
Program Budget Decision (PBD) 224, issued 11 December 1996, increased the THAAD program $722M (FY 98-03) to accelerate the First Unit Equipped milestone from FYO6 to FY04. This increase includes funding for additional UOES testing and the second EMD radar which are necessary for the acceleration of the program. The PBD 224, Change 3, moved procurement funding responsibility from BMDO to the Army. The first year of procurement funds is programmed for FYOl. Following the PBD 224 program increase, project office and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space (LMMS)/Raytheon personnel have been intensely reviewing the FUE FYO4 program structure to ensure the program can be executed at a moderate level of risk.
Delay in fielding from fiscal year 2002 until 2006 was the result of DOD reducing planned funding by about $2 billion during the fiscal year 1997 budget process. The delay increased total system cost from $16.8 billion to $17.9 billion, or by $1.1 billion. The other revision accompanied DOD's fiscal year 1998 budget request and involved accelerating fielding to fiscal year 2004 by adding a total of $722 million for fiscal years 1998 through 2003.
As of 2007 the Army expected to achieve THAAD initial operational capability in 2009, and initially plan to field two THAAD battalions, each with four batteries. The Army announced that the first two THAAD batteries will be assigned to the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) at Fort Bliss. New equipment training (NET) for key Army personnel is scheduled to begin this year. "Building a unit" is the "name of the game" for the THAAD team as it prepares to integrate Soldiers, equipment and training to form a deployable THAAD combat capability. Each battery will have three launchers, 24 interceptors, an X-Band radar and a TFCC system. The batteries also will have Army standard equipment, such as trucks, individual weapons and generators. Each battery will have four platoons: headquarters and maintenance, launcher, radar, and a fire control and communications platoon. Future plans called for four THAAD battalions that will operate along the US coast or in allied countries.
The one fire unit that will be handed off to the Army in 2009 for limited operational use is considered to be primarily a test asset. A second expected to become available during fiscal year 2010. Prior to a production decision, the program office planned to assess production maturity using Baseline Manufacturing Readiness Risk Assessments and Block Process Verification Reviews for assurance of the contractor's readiness to proceed with repeatable processes and quality.
