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Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

The United States is sending an advanced anti-missile system to Israel, the Pentagon has announced, as President Joe Biden’s administration continues to provide “ironclad” support for one of its top allies amid mounting tensions with Iran. The US Department of Defense said on 13 October 2024 that Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had authorised the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) “battery and associated crew of US military personnel to Israel” to help boost the country’s air defences. “The THAAD Battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defense system. This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

The announcement came less than two weeks after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel on October 1 in retaliation for the assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and an Iranian general. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have vowed to retaliate — spurring fears that the Middle East could be dragged into an all-out regional war. Biden had suggested that Israel should refrain from striking Iran’s nuclear facilities or oilfields, but the Israeli government has repeatedly defied the US president’s public warnings in the past.

THAAD is a ground-based missile defense system designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Rotational missile defense capabilities such as THAAD, Patriot, and Aegis ships are forward deployed as needed to protect US interest, allies and assets. Israel did not purchase the THAAD system, as its existing defense infrastructure already met its specific needs.

Developed in the 1990s and Introduced into service with the US Army in 2008, the THAAD (‘Terminal High Altitude Area Defense’) is an anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the reentry phase. Developed by Lockheed Martin, THAAD is designed to destroy enemy projectiles using kinetic force alone, with its $12 mln apiece 900 kg, 6.17 m-long interceptors powered by a single-stage solid-fuel Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne motor with thrust vectoring and the capability to accelerate to speeds up to Mach 8.2. The THAAD has a range between 150-200 km (including up to 150 km from the ground), and touts compatibility with other air and missile defense systems. Each of the THAAD’s HEMTT-LHS launch vehicles carries eight interceptors, and along with launchers and a command & control vehicle, batteries feature a Raytheon AN/TPY-2 X-band search & track radar with a 1,000 km detection range. A single THAAD battery costs $800 mln, although the price for foreign clients has been known to top $1.13 billion.

Israel did not purchase the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system for several reasons, largely due to the fact that it has developed its own robust missile defense architecture that suits its specific defense needs. Israel has developed a multi-layered missile defense system that addresses a wide range of missile threats, from short-range rockets to long-range ballistic missiles. The Arrow System was specifically designed to counter long-range ballistic missiles (such as those from Iran). Arrow-3, in particular, operates in the exo-atmosphere, similar to THAAD's purpose. These systems are tailored to Israel’s specific geographical and security needs. Purchasing THAAD would likely overlap with the capabilities provided by the Arrow system.

Israel has heavily invested in its indigenous defense industry, which has allowed it to develop systems that are customized for its unique security challenges. Systems like the Arrow and David's Sling have been developed in collaboration with the United States, providing Israel with direct control over design, upgrades, and maintenance. Importing a system like THAAD would limit this level of customization. THAAD is an expensive system, both in terms of procurement and maintenance. Given the high cost of missile defense systems, Israel has prioritized funding its indigenous systems, which are more cost-effective for the particular threats it faces.

THAAD is designed to intercept threats at very high altitudes and over longer ranges. Israel is a relatively small country with limited strategic depth, meaning that threats often come from close proximity (such as from Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in Gaza). Israel’s existing systems are more suited for dealing with these close-range threats, while THAAD’s capabilities are geared towards higher-altitude intercepts at longer distances—features that are less critical for Israel’s specific threat environment.

While Israel hasn’t purchased THAAD, it has still benefited from U.S. support. Israel and the U.S. conduct joint military exercises, and the U.S. has deployed THAAD systems to the region on a temporary basis during times of heightened tension. This cooperative security arrangement provides Israel with a “backup” option without the need for direct acquisition.

The Pentagon deployed for the first time its most advanced missile system in Israel, hailing the move 04 March 2019 as Washington's "continued commitment" to the security of Israel. The US European Command (EUCOM) said in a statement that the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was ordered by acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and was intended "as a demonstration of the United States' continued commitment to Israel's regional security." The statement added that US military forces would be stationed in a number of locations during THAAD's deployment to "practice operational procedures for augmenting Israel's existing" systems. "THAAD is the most advanced integrated air and missile defense system in the world, and this deployment readiness exercise demonstrates that US forces are agile, and can respond quickly and unpredictably to any threat, anywhere, at any time," EUCOM said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the arrival of THAAD and said the deployment was "further evidence" of the United States' commitment to Tel Aviv. "The American THAAD system is considered among the most advanced systems in the world, and together with our defense systems, we are stronger in dealing with threats, close or distant, emanating from all areas of the Middle East."

The deployment came a week after Israeli and US militaries wrapped up a week-long drill in Israel, simulating the deployment of American troops to aid in missile defense operations. The US had already supplied the advanced missile system to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In November 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy 44 THAAD launchers, missiles and related equipment from the United States in a deal valued at $15 billion. The administration of US President Donald Trump had been seeking to loosen restrictions on American arms sales to boost the country's weapons industry. Washington, in the meantime, was under pressure to suspend its arms sales to Riyadh, which has been leading a deadly campaign against Yemen since 2015.

On October 1, Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel in response to the killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, and senior IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his government was not seeking a war with Israel but would confront any threat in a resolute manner. Israel vowed to respond to the attack at a time and in a manner of its choosing. The United States and other allies have urged Israel to respond proportionately amid concerns that Iran's oil and nuclear facilities may be prime targets, which could potentially spark an all-out regional war.

"At the direction of the President, Secretary Austin authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of U.S. military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1," Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said 13 October 2024. This action aims to augment Israeli air defense capabilities to defend Israelis from ballistic missile attacks by Iran, Ryder said. The deployment is part of the broader adjustments the US military has made in recent months.

Washington may send about 100 troops to Israel operate the THAAD batteries, according to the THAAD technical specification. Each THAAD battery consists of six launchers mounted on a cargo vehicle, 48 interceptor missiles - eight per launcher, and 95 troops operating it. In addition, each battery has a mobile surveillance radar and a control radar, as well as a tactical fire control and communication devices.

If the US deploys a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in Israel, the regional crisis and ongoing conflicts could worsen as the deployment could further break the balance of power in the region, Chinese analysts said on 13 October 2024. By attacking Iran and other anti-Israel forces in the region, Israel is purposefully building a dangerous security environment for itself and deliberately making as many enemies as possible. This will force the US to spend more resources to protect Israel and will win more support and supplies from the US. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is firm in his belief that the US will unconditionally protect Israel, which is why Israel has no concern about acting so aggressively, analysts said.

Israel is closely coordinating with the US, which shows Israel understands the US does not want to be involved directly in the ongoing crisis. Therefore, Israel is taking advantage of the US mind-set to bargain with Washington for more support, such as the THAAD system. Perhaps the reason why Israel is yet to attack Iran is that it is waiting for a US pledge of new support, Li Xinggang, a research fellow at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University, told the Global Times.

If THAAD is deployed in the region, Iran's deterrent toward Israel will be weakened and Israel will be able to conduct more direct and assertive actions against Iran and other regional countries without concern. This would break the balance of power in the region and will force Tehran to take actions to prevent this from happening, said a Beijing-based military expert who asked for anonymity.

The US THAAD deployment seemed to Rusian observers as a symbolic display of continued American support for Israel – whose missile defenses proved overwhelmed by 200 Iranian ballistic missiles (out of an arsenal of thousands), despite the need to defend less than 22,000 sq. km – i.e. about the total land area of the state of New Jersey.