U.S. deploys THAAD to South Korea

The U.S. military has begun installing a controversial missile defence shield in South Korea. The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)system is designed to protect against threats from North Korea

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HOW THAAD WORKS

ASCENT PHASE

Radar tracking

AN/TPY-2 

Mobile X-band radar

MID-COURSE PHASE

In-flight target updates

Command centre

Truck-mounted computers

Launcher

Carries eight interceptors

TERMINAL PHASE


1. Missile threat launch: THAAD effective against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase of flight

2. Radar: Scans horizon for threats. Hostile missile can be detected at reported range of up to 2,000km

3. Command centre: Receives radar data for human verification of threat 

4. Launcher: Receives targeting data and launches interceptor. Hostile missile can be intercepted inside or just outside Earth’s atmosphere at altitude of up to 150km

5. Interceptor: Homes in using infrared seeker and destroys hostile missile by force of impact

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THAAD radar: Set up in “terminal mode” to cover North Korea instead of scanning deep into China 

CHINA 

200km 125 miles

NORTH KOREA

Seoul

SOUTH KOREA

THAAD intercept range 200km

JAPAN

Seongju County*

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Sources: U.S. DoD, wire agencies 

*Reported THAAD location 

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