On March 4, the United States announced the temporary deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel for the first time to conduct deployment readiness exercises. The system’s deployment is a part of the U.S. Dynamic Force Employment program, which will test the rapid response capabilities and proactive deployment presence of U.S....
The Trump administration has today released its long-awaited Missile Defense Review (MDR). Initiated pursuant to both congressional and presidential direction, the report represents an attempt to adapt U.S. missile defense policy, posture, and programs to the strategic environment of great power competition. The United States and its allies face a more complex and challenging aerial...
In missile defense circles, commentators frequently remark that that there are only so many islands or ships in the Pacific on which to put radars. Reading through recent missile defense budget requests, however, one is struck by the fact that the Pentagon seems to have doubled down on a strategy of building a chain of...
Rethinking the push for program transfer When the U.S. Missile Defense Agency was created in 2002, the expectation was that it would initially develop missile defense systems but then transfer responsibility for their procurement to the military services that would operate them. The process has not worked out quite as expected. Missile defense capabilities have...
On June 26, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it will move forward with existing plans to upgrade South Korea’s missile defense systems. Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves discussed the improvements, which include strengthening deployed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems and procuring more PAC-3 MSEs (Missile...
U.S. Army officials reportedly plan to tie THAAD and Patriot air and missile defense systems together within two years. The plan accelerates the integration of the two systems in response to operational needs on the Korean Peninsula. According to BG Randy McIntire, who is charge of modernizing the Army’s AMD capabilities, the plans incorporate steps...
On November 6, the White House submitted an FY18 emergency budget request for the Department of Defense for $5.9 billion in additional funding “to support urgent missile defeat and defense enhancements to counter the threat from North Korea.” Most of this request, $4 billion, is designated for missile defeat and defense activities. $2.1 billion would...
On October 31, Seoul and Beijing agreed to end a year-long dispute over the deployment of a U.S. THAAD battery in South Korea. Following South Korea’s decision to deploy the missile defense system, China targeted ROK retail, tourism, cosmetics, and entertainment industries that rely heavily on the Chinese market and customers. “Both sides shared the...
On October 22, U.S. and South Korea (ROK) forces worked overnight to complete the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) battery deployment in Seongju, located 300 km south of Seoul. The 35th Air Defense Artillery brigade, the unit charged with manning the system, is set to be joined by additional U.S. and ROK troops to...
On October 6, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $15 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and related support, equipment, and services. The deal comprises 44 THAAD launchers, 360 missile interceptors, seven AN/TPY-2 radar systems, and other related parts, training, and equipment. A day before the...
