First Saudi THAAD Operators Complete Training at Fort Bliss

24 November, 2024 Saudi THAAD personnel. Source: Kingdom's Ministry of Defense The United States has completed the training of the first company of military personnel for the THAAD missile defense system for Saudi Arabia.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom. It is reported that the training took place at Fort Bliss, Texas. It should be recalled that permission to sell seven THAAD systems to Saudi Arabia was granted in October 2017.

In total, it was planned to supply 44 launchers, 360 missiles, 16 command posts, and 7 AN/TPY-2 radars, as well as auxiliary equipment and maintenance services. The total cost was estimated at £15 billion.

THAAD missile defense system during deployment. Photo credits: MDA

In January 2024, Lockheed Martin signed an agreement to localize part of THAAD production in Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom will produce transport and launch containers for missiles and launcher components.

AN/TPY-2 radar. Photo credits: RTX

Previously, on September 27, it was reported that Raytheon had delivered the first AN/TPY-2 missile defense radar for the THAAD system to Saudi Arabia.

THAAD

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a missile defense system that allows for the interception of ballistic targets in the atmosphere. The THAAD system uses the concept of kinetic interception, which means that only the kinetic energy of the missile is used to hit the target, while the warhead is absent.

The THAAD missile is a single-stage solid-fuel missile, with an engine developed by Pratt & Whitney.

Operational principle of the THAAD

The missile has an infrared homing head that operates in the middle and far infrared range. The control system is command-and-control. The anti-missile can intercept targets moving at a speed of 3.5-4.8 km/sec.

The system's radar station can detect targets at a distance of up to 1000 kilometers.