The 11th flight test for the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) defense missile system was a success today when it intercepted the Hera target missile at approximately 7:45 a.m. EDT this morning at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
THAAD uses technologies developed in earlier BMDO programs. It is the first weapon system developed specifically to defend against theater ballistic missiles. The THAAD system will provide upper-tier defense for the Army's two-tier theater missile defense concept. The higher altitude and theater wide protection offered by THAAD will provide more protection of larger theater areas than lower-tier systems alone. THAAD is being designed to defend against both medium and long-range ballistic missiles. THAAD is a completely integrated weapon system consisting of radars; battle management, command, control, communication, and intelligence (BM/C3I) segment; launchers and missiles.
The THAAD program is managed by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in Washington, D.C., and executed by the Army Program Executive Office for Air and Missile Defense and the Army THAAD Project Office in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space is the prime contractor. The Raytheon Co. builds the THAAD radar. Coleman Research Corp. and Aerotherm Corp. are the Hera target contractors. The Army Space and Missile Defense Command, also in Huntsville, manage the Hera target program.
Video of the successful flight test can be down-linked at 2 p.m. EDT, noon Mountain Time on Monday, Aug. 2, 1999. There will be a five minute window for the downlink. Satellite coordinates are the following: TelStar 4; transponder 12 upper; audio: 6.2 - 6.8; Ku band; frequency 12059 horizontal.
For further information on the test and the result, contact the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization at (703) 695-8743.
