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 ...
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.
Does this work on low flying cruise type missiles? It would seem less efficient on those.
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. :)
I suspect Israel played a part in developing the technology. Iron dome is multi-layered.
Why are they spooked? Dollars to donuts they already have the plans forwarded to them by Bill/Hillary or Barry Soetoro.
I lived on McGregor Range from 79 through 81. I was in Range Command.
The Clintons damned near killed this project.
Can anyone guess why ?
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.
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.
No doubt there were some “understandings” in the Loral Space Kickback from the Chinese...
and the cray super computers to run the software.
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.
That’s a pathetic number of people in Seoul against Thaad.
I wonder who’s funding them....
I am okay sharing it with Israel and maybe South Korea.
No way I would share it with Saudi Arabia or other muslim nations.
I suspect Israel played a part in developing the technology. Iron dome is multi-layered.
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True.
The left has done its best to delay and degrade ALL missile defense programs.
Those kind frequently are agents or puppets. Similar to the blm or occupy agitators here.
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.
Obviously. Why would anyone be opposed to a anti-missile system?
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