The Ballistic Missile Defense System: An Integrated Approach to Global Defense

THAAD consists of four principal components: truck-mounted launchers; interceptors; radars; and command, control, and battle management (C2BM). It can be air-lifted to almost anywhere in the world within hours, and all components fit inside a C-130 aircraft.

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) is the most mature element of the BMDS. Now operational with the U.S. Army, this element is a land-based system built on the proven Patriot air and missile defense infrastructure. As the best defense against short-range ballistic missiles, Patriot was deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where it successfully engaged all threatening ballistic missiles within its scope of operation.

In the event of an enemy launch, a single interceptor equipped with the Multiple Kill Vehicle payload will not only destroy the reentry vehicle, but all credible threat objects including countermeasures the enemy deploys to try and spoof U.S. defenses. (MDA photo)

MEADS is cooperative effort among the United States, Germany, and Italy to develop an air and missile defense system that is mobile and transportable. It is capable of countering ballistic missiles and air-breathing threats such as aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles, utilizing a radar with a 360° capability. MEADS’ role in ballistic missile defense is to bridge the gap between man-portable systems like the Stinger missile and the higher levels of the BMDS such as the THAAD system.