The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request, which includes continued funding for projects aimed at enhancing the United States’ ability to detect, disrupt, and defeat ballistic missile threats to its homeland, deployed forces, allies, and partners. This includes significant investments in the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, a critical element of the U.S. missile defense architecture. The FY 2025 budget specifically allocates funds for the procurement of 12 THAAD interceptors, as well as ongoing efforts to address interceptor obsolescence, maintain stockpile reliability, and update system components to ensure the capability remains effective against evolving missile threats.
Additionally, the funding supports software upgrades that will improve system reliability and readiness, ensuring that the THAAD air defense missile system is prepared to engage a wide range of threats, including short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs), and limited intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs).
The THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) air defense missile system plays a pivotal role in the U.S. missile defense strategy, providing protection against ballistic missiles by utilizing advanced “Hit-to-Kill” technology that intercepts and destroys missiles both inside and outside the atmosphere. The THAAD battery consists of several key components, including truck-mounted launchers, interceptors, a sophisticated radar system (AN/TPY-2), and a fire control/communications system. A typical THAAD battery comprises six launchers, each equipped with eight interceptors, as well as the supporting radar and communications infrastructure necessary to track and engage threats during the terminal phase of their flight.