Lockheed Martin’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System has been activated at the U.S. Army base in Fort Bliss, Texas.
Lockheed Martin developed and produced THAAD for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
Initially, Lockheed has contracted to provide 24 THAAD interceptors, three THAAD launchers, a THAAD Fire Control and a THAAD radar as part of its initial delivery.
The first delivery is for Alpha Battery/4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command.
Logistics support assets, including a Battery Support Center and Integrated Contractor Support System, and spares will also be supplied. The first THAAD equipment was already delivered to the unit and personnel are already being trained.
An Army spokesperson said “Full-system fielding is scheduled to begin in 2009 with the Brigade’s A4 Battery.”
THAAD flight testing is to continue later in 2008. Two flights are scheduled before the end of Fiscal Year 2008, and two more after October 1.
Since November 2005, seven successful flight tests of the THAAD Weapon System were completed, and four of those successfully intercepted threat representative targets. in late 2006, Lockheed Martin received a production contract for the first two units.
