The U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted the 15th successful Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system intercept test, this time against a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) target, the agency said Sunday.
Defense Daily first reported this test on July 24 after the Coast Guard posted a notice to mariners about an upcoming rocket launch from the Kodiak Launch Complex, where the last THAAD test originated (Defense Daily, July 24).
This test, called Flight Experiment THAAD (FET)-01 was performed to gather threat data from a THAAD interceptor in flight, the MDA said.
“In addition to successfully intercepting the target, the data collected will allow MDA to enhance the THAAD weapon system, our modeling and simulation capabilities, and our ability to stay ahead of the evolving threat,” MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves said in a statement.
The test used an MRBM air-launched by an Air Force C-17 over the Pacific Ocean. A Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built THAAD system at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska on Kodiak detected, tracked, and intercepted the target.
Soldiers from the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based in Fort Bliss, Texas, conducted launcher, fire control, and radar operations. MDA noted they used the same procedures as would be used in an actual combat scenario.
The agency also highlighted the soldiers operating the THAAD equipment were unaware of the specific target launch time.
Separately, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for new measures in response to the second North Korean Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) test within a month, including completing the installation of additional THAAD launchers in South Korea.
On July 29 Moon made remarks at an emergency meeting of the National Security Council calling for additional THAAD capabilities as well as additional U.S.-South Korea ballistic missile capabilities that can be used to strike North Korea, increased deterrence capabilities with the U.S., pursuing additional United Nations Security Council resolutions against North Korea, and ramping up the country’s security posture to protect against provocations.
The THAAD decision appears to reverse a June decision by the presidential office, the Blue House, which suspended deployment of four launchers to the THAAD battery in South Korea so they could start a full environmental impact assessment (Defense Daily, June 7). The THAAD system was first installed with the first two of six launchers.
That suspension came after the new president’s administration investigated in May why a report that the four additional interceptors entered the country did not reach the president (Defense Daily, May 31).
Moon, from the social liberal Democratic Party, campaigned on a more moderate approach to North Korea and was tepid towards the THAAD deployment initiated under his impeached predecessor, Park Guen-hye. Moon also said while campaigning that the previous administration should have gotten the South Korean legislature’s approval before accepting a THAAD battery.
China reiterated its opposition to the THAAD decision, having previously opposed the installation of the missile defense system on the Korean peninsula.
“China’s firm opposition to the deployment of the THAAD system in the ROK [Republic of Korea, official name of South Korea] by the United States is consistent and clear-cut. The deployment of the THAAD system cannot address the security concerns of the ROK. Neither can it resolve the relevant issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. It will only complicate those issues,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on July 29.
The spokesperson added that THAAD would endanger the security interests of regional countries including China and they “strongly urge” the ROK and U.S. to take China’s interests and concerns seriously.