U.S. to deploy anti-missile system in S. Korea

The Pentagon says it is planning to deploy a THAAD defence system to South Korea to protect against any North Korean missile attacks

TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENSE (THAAD)

AN/TPY-2 radar

X-band antenna scans horizon for missile threats

Mobile command centre

Humvee-mounted computers receive radar data for human verification of threat

Launcher Receives targeting data.Incoming missile canbe intercepted inside or just outside Earth’s atmosphere Missile threat

Interceptor: Booster separatesfrom kill vehicle (KV), which homesin on missile using infrared seeker

KV

KV: Destroys missile by force of impact

Radar range 1,000km

Booster

Launcher carries eight interceptors

INTERCEPTOR

Shroud

Kill vehicle Diameter 0.37m

Interstage

Booster Powered by single-stage solid-propellant rocket motor with thrust vectoring.

Flare

Weight: 900kg

Speed: Mach 8.24

CHINA

300km 200 miles

THAAD radar range 1,000km

NORTH KOREA

THAAD intercept range 200km

RUSSIA

SOUTH KOREA

JAPAN

Sources: U.S. Department of Defence, The Heritage Foundation