U.S. THAAD defense system makes first missile interception against Houthi attack in Israel
By kevinhughes // 2025-01-02
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  • The THAAD system successfully intercepted a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, marking its first combat use in Israel.
  • The U.S. sent the THAAD battery to Israel in October in response to threats of retaliatory strikes by Iran as part of an evolving defense strategy to counter Iran and its proxies in the region.
  • The THAAD system consists of a control center equipped with radar and interceptors that are capable of intercepting short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles,
  • Israel has been weathering Houthi drone and missile attacks for over a year now, leading to retaliatory anti-Houthi airstrikes on Yemen.
Israel has reported the first-ever use of the United States-supplied Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system, neutralizing a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The strategic deployment of the THAAD battery, which was sent to Israel in October, underscores the escalating tensions in the region and the evolving defense dynamics between Israel and its adversaries. The interception occurred on Dec. 26, marking a significant milestone for the THAAD system, which has been in development since the early 1990s and entered active service with the U.S. Armed Forces in 2008. Video footage released on social media shows the launch of one of THAAD's interceptors, with an American soldier expressing the moment's historic significance: "Eighteen years I’ve been waiting for this." The scenario that prompted this intercept began when Houthis launched a medium-range ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The exact outcome of the intercept is still under review, and it remains unclear whether it was the THAAD or an Israeli system that successfully neutralized the missile.

THAAD system boasts a formidable capability to intercept ballistic missiles

The THAAD system, which has previously seen limited use in exercises and non-combat situations, boasts a formidable capability to intercept short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The battery in Israeli service, one of seven in the U.S. Army's arsenal, consists of up to nine transporter-erector-launchers, each carrying eight interceptors, along with a long-range AN/TPY-2 X-band radar, a mobile fire control and command center and various supporting equipment. The decision to forward-deploy this THAAD battery to Israel was made following Iran's Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack, an event that raised significant security concerns. Since then, the battery has seen continuous deployment to bolster Israel's defenses against the persistent threat posed by the Houthis and other Iranian-backed proxies. (Related: Pentagon sending THAAD missile defense system and U.S. troops to Israel.) The latest incident marks the fifth Houthi missile attack in eight days, leading to the activation of air raid sirens across central Israel and prompting a response from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF launched multiple airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including key infrastructure facilities used by the rebels. The use of the THAAD system in this combat scenario highlights the growing demands on the U.S. Army's air defense assets, which are increasingly being stretched across multiple theaters of operation. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth acknowledged the strain on these systems, emphasizing the need for modernization and expansion of capabilities to manage the rising threat landscape. In addition to the THAAD deployment, Israel has bolstered its air defense capabilities with systems like the Arrow 2 and David's Sling, forming a robust layered defense structure. The integration of advanced technologies such as the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) into the Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) network is aimed at enhancing the overall effectiveness of these defensive systems. Follow WeaponsTechnology.news for more news about the THAAD and other missile defense systems. Watch the video below about how THAAD changed global defense forever. This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.

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