In the latest round of military aid to Israel, the United States will send the Advanced High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.
The Pentagon said on Sunday that the United States would also send soldiers to operate the system.
It is unclear when it will be published.
This is why the United States is deploying THAAD in Israel now:
What is THAAD?
THAAD is an advanced missile defense system that uses a combination of radar and interceptors to thwart short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. The range of its missiles ranges from 150 to 200 kilometers (93 to 124 miles), and the system is manufactured by the American defense and aerospace company Lockheed Martin.
It can intercept missiles both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere during the final phase of their flight, which begins when the separated warhead reenters the Earth’s atmosphere and ends when it explodes, according to the Arms Control and Nonproliferation Center.
How does THAAD work?
According to an April report by the Congressional Research Service, THAAD batteries typically consist of 95 soldiers, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptor missiles — eight for each launcher — one radar system, and a fire control and communications component.
The number of launchers and interceptors can vary.
The THAAD system does not carry an explosive warhead, allowing it to reach high altitudes quickly. Instead of exploding on impact with incoming ballistic missiles to neutralize them, THAAD interceptors use kinetic energy — energy generated by the movement of their mass — to launch the missile.
What it can’t do is fend off smaller, simpler weapons like drones used by groups including Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen, Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna reports from Washington, D.C. This is because drones are small in size and do not approach high altitudes.
(Al Jazeera) How much does it cost?
The cost of a single THAAD battery ranges from $1 billion to $1.8 billion, according to Hanna.
How many THAAD batteries are there?
According to a Congressional Research Service report, the US military has deployed seven THAAD batteries, including in South Korea and Guam.
Does Israel already have THAAD batteries?
According to a statement published by the US Department of Defense on Sunday, the United States had previously deployed a THAAD battery in southern Israel in 2019 “for training and an integrated air defense maneuver.”
Hanna said that this battery was returned to the United States after the exercises.
The statement added that the United States deployed the THAAD battery in the Middle East “to defend American forces and interests in the region” after Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, without specifying the country in which it was deployed.
Israeli air defenses currently use three systems: the Iron Dome system intercepts short-range missiles from 4 to 70 kilometers (2.5 to 43.5 mi), the David Sling system intercepts medium-range missiles from 40 to 300 kilometers (24.5 to 186 mi), and the Arrow system intercepts long-range missiles. Range – The missiles have a range of up to 2,400 kilometers (1,491 miles).
THAAD and Iron Dome can work together to protect at higher altitudes and reduce damage from a longer distance, Hanna said.
Why is the United States sending the system to Israel now?
“In the latest Iranian attack, Iran improvised something we had never seen before,” said military analyst Elijah Magnier, referring to the Iranian attack on Israel on October 1, when it fired nearly 200 missiles at major cities and towns.
Iran fired the missiles “in three corridors or three locations, making it impossible for any interceptor missile to connect them all,” Magnier said.
Iranian state media said Fatah hypersonic ballistic missiles were used for the first time, a claim that Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify.
The Fatah, which will be unveiled in 2023, is a missile the United States has never encountered, and Washington wants to “test” whether THAAD is capable of intercepting it, Magnier said.
A statement on Sunday said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had authorized the deployment of the THAAD system in Israel to help bolster the country’s air defenses.
The statement added, “This action confirms the United States’ firm commitment to defending Israel…from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.”
Why do American soldiers come with her?
“the [THAAD] The systems are so complex that they would require a crew of 94 people to operate — a trained crew of 94 people — and those would be American soldiers,” Hanna said from Washington, D.C.
Magnier explained that American forces accompany the THAAD system because they are trained to operate it and there is no time to train the Israeli army.
While it is uncertain when the THAAD system will arrive in Israel, Magnier said, “once the THAAD system arrives, any time would be opportune for Israel to launch an attack and an Iranian response would not be imminent.”
He added that the soldiers may return to the United States if Iran launches an attack on Israel.
THAAD interceptor missile launched in Kodiak, Alaska [File: Handout/Leah Garton/Missile Defense Agency via Reuters]
Could Israel get more THAAD batteries in the future?
That’s unlikely, Hanna said.
He explained that this is because the THAAD system covers a wide area and one battery is sufficient for the size of Israel, especially under the assumption that missiles will strike Israel only from Iran.
In addition, the THAAD system is a limited resource for the United States, and manufacturing more batteries takes time, Hanna said, likening the complex manufacturing process to that of a jet aircraft.
However, it is easier to replenish interceptors.
