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We spent a day with world’s most advanced missile system that has China and North Korea spooked
Business Insider ^ | 03/11/2016 | Amanda Macias

Posted on 03/11/2016 8:11:49 AM PST by SeekAndFind

MCGREGOR RANGE, New Mexico — The most advanced missile system on the planet can hunt and blast incoming missiles right out of the sky with a 100% success rate — and we got to spend a day with it. Meet the US's THAAD system.

THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a unique missile-defense system with unmatched precision, capable of countering threats around the world with its mobility and strategic battery-unit placement.

"It is the most technically advanced missile-defense system in the world," US Army Col. Alan Wiernicki, commander of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, told Business Insider in an interview.

"Combatant commanders and our allies know this, which puts our THAAD Batteries in very high global demand," Wiernicki added.

And that demand seems poised to rise.

On Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed his country had developed miniaturized nuclear warheads, which can be mounted to long-range ballistic missiles.

The rogue regime's latest announcement is a follow-through pass to last month's long-range-rocket launch and January's purported hydrogen-bomb test. Negotiations to equip South Korea with THAAD have been ongoing since South Korean President Park Geun-hye's October 2015 visit to the White House.

As of yet, there has not been a formal move to deploy the missile system.

"The complexity of global-security challenges is increasingly causing combatant commanders to request more Army forces," US Army Capt. Gus Cunningham told Business Insider.

"With that said, THAAD is ready to respond to any request, at any time," Cunningham added.

If a THAAD battery were deployed to South Korea, depending on its exact location, nearly all incoming missiles from the North could be eliminated, as displayed by the following graphic from The Heritage Foundation.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; missilesystem; northkorea
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To: boycott

These things are great but everyone seems to forget that the missile simply doesn’t reach its intended target but lands elsewhere. It may not always destroy the payload of certain ballistic missiles. This means it simply falls somewhere else. Almost certainly, with nuclear payloads, it scatters radioactive material elsewhere. It is not like space invaders, blip, gone.

During Desert Storm and Desert Shield, the scuds meant to hit certain targets in Israel landed in neighborhoods and other unintended areas. Yes, the damage was greatly reduced and casualties were lower but people were still killed and property lost.

Years ago when someone flew a small plane into the White House it was suggested that there be, or are, anti air missiles or devices positioned around the White House. Never mind that the Cessna didn’t give off a large enough signature for any defense weapons at that time but you are talking about errant missiles and falling planes landing in the mall. Is it acceptable to lose the Washington Monument or the Smithsonian not to mention people to save the White House? I do not know, but it puts me in mind of the opening scene from Team America.


21 posted on 03/11/2016 8:36:34 AM PST by rey
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To: SeekAndFind

Does this work on low flying cruise type missiles? It would seem less efficient on those.


22 posted on 03/11/2016 8:38:15 AM PST by rey
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To: SeekAndFind

Well, I took this photo in Seoul last summer, so the system isn't getting a warm reception from all quarters - though I suppose they could be North Korean agents in disguise. :)

23 posted on 03/11/2016 8:45:07 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: boycott

I suspect Israel played a part in developing the technology. Iron dome is multi-layered.


24 posted on 03/11/2016 8:45:20 AM PST by meatloaf
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To: SeekAndFind

Why are they spooked? Dollars to donuts they already have the plans forwarded to them by Bill/Hillary or Barry Soetoro.


25 posted on 03/11/2016 8:45:33 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Feckless

I lived on McGregor Range from 79 through 81. I was in Range Command.


26 posted on 03/11/2016 8:46:03 AM PST by Dutch Boy
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To: Obadiah

The Clintons damned near killed this project.
Can anyone guess why ?


27 posted on 03/11/2016 8:48:05 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

and they approved the sale of missile guidance technology to china. I think tree was a theory in his administration to “even things out” so we weren’t too strong.


28 posted on 03/11/2016 8:49:42 AM PST by morphing libertarian
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To: Jimmy Valentine; Obadiah

It was actually Nikola Tesla’s idea back nearly a hundred years ago.

I highly recommend reading the book Wizard, The Life & Times of Nikola Tesla (Biography of a Genius) by Marc J. Seifer.


29 posted on 03/11/2016 8:51:26 AM PST by panaxanax ( Cruz/West 2016)
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To: morphing libertarian

No doubt there were some “understandings” in the Loral Space Kickback from the Chinese...


30 posted on 03/11/2016 8:51:35 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

and the cray super computers to run the software.


31 posted on 03/11/2016 8:52:06 AM PST by morphing libertarian
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To: boycott

My question is why on earth would you sell this system to anyone? It is just a matter of time till China and Russia get the plans or the actual system. 100% effective and you sell it to a Middle eastern country? This is beyond foolish.


32 posted on 03/11/2016 8:58:32 AM PST by Foundahardheadedwoman (God don't have a statute of limitations)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

That’s a pathetic number of people in Seoul against Thaad.

I wonder who’s funding them....


33 posted on 03/11/2016 9:28:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: Obadiah
Yes. Evil leftists have always hated American defense capabilities; their support for communism and islamism (foreign and domestic) amounts to treason.
34 posted on 03/11/2016 9:32:47 AM PST by NorthMountain (A plague o' both your houses.)
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To: Foundahardheadedwoman

I am okay sharing it with Israel and maybe South Korea.

No way I would share it with Saudi Arabia or other muslim nations.


35 posted on 03/11/2016 9:34:38 AM PST by boycott (--s)
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To: meatloaf

I suspect Israel played a part in developing the technology. Iron dome is multi-layered.

True.


36 posted on 03/11/2016 9:35:25 AM PST by boycott (--s)
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To: SubMareener

The left has done its best to delay and degrade ALL missile defense programs.


37 posted on 03/11/2016 9:36:44 AM PST by NorthMountain (A plague o' both your houses.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

Those kind frequently are agents or puppets. Similar to the blm or occupy agitators here.


38 posted on 03/11/2016 9:49:26 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: meatloaf
I suspect Israel played a part in developing the technology. Iron dome is multi-layered.

We partnered with Israel on a lot of missile-defense research and design. They were our "work-around" while the ABM Treaty was still restricting us.

39 posted on 03/11/2016 9:51:05 AM PST by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

Obviously. Why would anyone be opposed to a anti-missile system?


40 posted on 03/11/2016 9:52:05 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
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