Missile defense thaad. The National Interest (USA): The American THAAD missile defense system is approaching the borders of Russia. Russia will wait: China will tell the US everything itself

MOSCOW, December 27 – RIA Novosti, Vadim Saranov. Missiles began to fly into Saudi Arabia frequently. Recently, the UN Security Council condemned the attack by the Yemeni Houthis on Riyadh. The target of the attack was the royal palace of Al-Yamamah, but nothing happened. The missile was either shot down or deviated from its course. Against this background, Saudi Arabia intends to significantly strengthen its missile defense. The main candidates for the role of an “umbrella” are the American THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system and the Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of competitors in the RIA Novosti material.

S-400 hits further, THAAD hits higher

Objectively, THAAD and the S-400 Triumph air defense system are conditional competitors. "Triumph" is primarily designed to destroy aerodynamic targets: aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles. THAAD, on the other hand, is a system originally designed to combat short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. "American" is capable of destroying targets at altitudes that are prohibitive for conventional air defense systems - 150 kilometers, and according to some reports, even 200 kilometers. The latest anti-aircraft missile 40N6E of the Russian Triumph does not work above 30 kilometers. However, according to experts, the destruction altitude indicator, especially when it comes to combating operational-tactical missiles, is not critical.

“In theater missile defense, targets are destroyed on downward trajectories, and not in space,” Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, former deputy commander-in-chief of the Air Force for the unified air defense system of the CIS countries, told RIA Novosti. “In the late 1980s, in missile defense "In the capital, it was planned to use two S-300V2 regiments. At the Kapustin Yar training ground, they created a model of the defense of Moscow with the same geometric dimensions and launched targets from the stratosphere. All of them were destroyed at a distance of 120 kilometers."

By the way, the main danger to Saudi Arabia today is precisely the R-17 Scud operational-tactical missiles and the Qahir and Zelzal tactical missiles, created on the basis of the Soviet Luna-M complex.

© AP Photo/U.S. Force Korea

© AP Photo/U.S. Force Korea

Another key difference between the American and Russian complexes is the principle of operation. If the Triumph hits targets with fragments after detonating the missile warhead near the target, then the THAAD, deprived of the warhead, hits the missile directly with a kinetic block. Meanwhile, despite the apparent complexity of this solution, the Americans managed to achieve good results during the tests - the probability of destroying a target with one anti-missile missile is 0.9, if THAAD backs up a simpler complex, this figure will be 0.96.

The main advantage of Triumph when used as an anti-missile system is its higher range. For the 40N6E missile it is up to 400 kilometers, while for THAAD it is 200 kilometers. Unlike the S-400, which can fire 360 ​​degrees, the THAAD, when deployed, has a field of fire of 90 degrees horizontally and 60 degrees vertically. But at the same time, the “American” has better vision - the detection range of its AN/TPY-2 radar is 1000 kilometers versus 600 kilometers for the “Triumph”.

Combine incompatible

As you can see, Saudi Arabia intends to build its missile defense on two completely different systems. This approach may seem somewhat strange, because when using them, serious compatibility problems may arise. However, according to experts, this is a completely solvable issue.

“These two systems cannot be controlled in an automated mode from a single command post,” military expert Mikhail Khodarenok told RIA Novosti. “They have completely different mathematics, completely different logic. But this does not exclude the possibility of their combat use separately. They can be deployed in different localities or even within the framework of the defense of one object, if their tasks are divided into heights and sectors. They can simply complement each other perfectly, being in the same group."

Saudi Arabia's desire to acquire both Russian and American systems may be dictated by other considerations. After Operation Desert Storm, during which French anti-aircraft missile systems in service with Iraqi air defense suddenly became inoperable, potential buyers began to be more cautious about purchasing weapons manufactured in the West.

“There may be some hidden bugs in American weapons,” says Mikhail Khodarenok. “For example, an F-16 of the Jordanian Air Force cannot shoot down an F-16 of the Israeli Air Force. That is, if American weapons are used against Saudi Arabia, only the S-400 will be able to hit it.” "It can also work for conventional aerodynamic purposes. It is possible that this is the only reason they are buying the Russian system."

The most important difference between THAAD and Triumph is the price. The cost of one THAAD battery, which consists of six launchers for eight interceptor missiles each, is about $2.3 billion. The innovative AN/TPY-2 radar costs another 574 million. The cost of an S-400 battalion with eight launchers of four missiles each is about $500 million. The Russian complex costs almost six times less, while the advantages of THAAD, at least for now, are not obvious.

Short description

The American mobile anti-missile system (PRK) long-range interception THAAD (Theater High Altitude Area Defense) is designed to destroy operational-tactical missiles (OTR, firing range up to 1000 km) and medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM, up to 3500 km) at altitudes 40 -150 km and ranges up to 200 km.

R&D for its creation has been carried out since 1992 by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space with a group of industrial enterprises, among which Raytheon is responsible for the development of a multifunctional radar. They have one of the highest priorities within the theater missile defense program and are at the stage of confirming the technical feasibility of the chosen concept.
At the beginning of 1995, prototypes of the launcher, the GBR-T multifunctional radar station and the command post (CP) of this complex were deployed at the White Sands missile defense test site (New Mexico), and flight tests of experimental samples of its anti-missile missile (AM) began. .

Since 2000, the program has been in preparation for serial production engineering and manufacturing development (EMD). In May 2004, production of 16 interceptor missiles began for flight testing at Lockheed Martin's new plant in Pike County, Alabama. Preliminary comprehensive testing of the system will begin in early 2005 and continue until 2009. It is planned that the system will be put into low-volume production in 2007 and the first phase of its deployment (initial operating capability IOC) will begin.

Anti-missile

PR THAAD - single-stage solid propellant (launch weight 900 kg, length 617 and maximum body diameter 37 cm), consists of a head part, a transition compartment and a solid propellant rocket motor with a tail skirt-stabilizer. The solid propellant engine was developed by Pratt & Whitney.

The head part of the anti-missile missile is made in the form of a detachable homing kinetic interception stage, designed to destroy ballistic targets through a direct hit. In its nose part there is a double-wing aerodynamic fairing that can be dropped at the final stage of the PR flight.

The interception stage includes: a multispectral infrared homing head (GOS), operating in the middle (3.3 -3.8 µm) and far (7 - 10 µm) sections of the IR range, a command-inertial control system, a computer, a power supply, as well as a propulsion system (PU) for maneuvering and spatial orientation.

The HP homing head has an IR transparent sapphire uncooled window. Its non-scanning matrix photodetector, located in a two-axis gimbal, is a focal array made on the basis of sensitive elements made of indium antimonide, with an angular resolution of no more than 200 μrad (until 1997, in the GSP experimental PR samples, the sensitive elements were made of platinum silicide). Since the head part of the anti-missile missile has the shape of a cone, the photodetector is provided with an angular displacement of the line of sight relative to the longitudinal axis of the missile launcher. Its three-mirror optical system is placed in a Dewar flask.

The design of the interception stage of the experimental anti-missile missile provides for the use of various types of propulsion systems. In particular, at the stage of demonstrating and confirming the technical feasibility of the PR creation project, it is planned to place a maneuvering and spatial orientation system of the DACS (Divert Attitute Control System) type, equipped with a liquid engine (developed by Rocketdyne), in the tail part of its interception stage. This remote control must be turned on at the final part of the missile's flight path in order to ensure its direct hit on the ballistic target.

In the DACS liquid propulsion system, to create lateral thrust, four cross-shaped multiple-start micromotors are used, located in a plane passing through its center of mass, and having four control nozzles. They are actuated by a solenoid type valve device. Micromotors operate on two-component fuel (nitrogen tetroxide and monomethylhydrazine), supplied by displacement method. A number of their elements, most exposed to hot gases, are made of carbon composite materials with a niobium coating. Each micromotor has a mass of 1 kg and a specific thrust impulse of 315 - 325 s. The use of carbon composite materials with niobium coating in its design made it possible, without the use of forced cooling, to bring the temperature in the combustion chamber to 2760° C. A nozzle weighing 60 kg provides a thrust impulse of 70 kgf, and its maximum value can be achieved in no more than 5 ms .

The valve device is based on valves for supplying fuel to the combustion chambers of micromotors to ensure the maneuvering mode of the interception stage, as well as its injection into the nozzles for its spatial orientation. Both types of valves are assembled on the basis of a solenoid. Its operation is carried out using a power drive capable of generating a current of a maximum value of 1.5 A. In May 1994, in the Santa Suzanna laboratory (California), Rocketdipe specialists successfully conducted bench fire tests of a prototype of the DACS liquid propulsion system. According to the project developers, this made it possible to assemble and deliver on time a total of 20 experimental samples of the interception stage of this missile launcher to the White Sands test site, where it was to be tested.

Judging by reports in the American press, it is planned to subsequently replace such a remote control. Thus, at the stage of full-scale development of the PR, the Missile Defense and Space Command of the US Department of the Army plans to equip the interception stage with a small-sized DACS-type propulsion system from Aerojet, running on jelly-like rocket fuel. It combines the advantages of a liquid propellant rocket engine (high specific impulse, the ability to accurately control thrust and multiple activation) with the advantages of a solid propellant rocket engine (safety and ease of operation). The search for the composition of jelly-like fuel is carried out by introducing various polymer-based additives into the formulations of components of existing liquid rocket fuels until a jelly-like consistency is obtained. The creation of fuel with a higher density, according to Western experts, will significantly reduce the size of fuel tanks and the entire interception stage as a whole. To increase the specific thrust impulse of the engine, a study is being conducted on the feasibility of using metal additives in such fuel.

In the longer term, this remote control is also expected to be replaced with a solid propellant propulsion system.

Thus, the existing version of the experimental prototype of the THAAD interceptor stage with liquid propulsion is considered by the developers as an intermediate one. It is planned to be used mainly for testing the design of an anti-missile missile and algorithms for guiding it to a ballistic target. The flight control of the PR in the middle section of the trajectory is carried out by changing the thrust vector of the deflected solid propellant nozzle. This engine accelerates it to a speed of about 3 km/s. The tail skirt is a flexible, self-regulating stabilizer that adapts to flight conditions. It is assembled from 16 movable aerodynamic planes - segments supported by special spherical gas bags. This design of the skirt makes it possible to significantly enhance the stabilizing effect when lateral aerodynamic forces are applied to the anti-missile missile.

Launcher

Launcher with ten interceptor missiles and its diagram

Multifunctional radar station GBR

GBR radar phased array diagram

Diagrams of GBR radar elements: radar as a whole, hardware, mobile power supply, cooling system

Complex command post

Battery command post

Scheme of interaction of elements of the THAAD anti-missile system

The launcher houses ten missile launchers in transport and launch containers. They are mounted in a single module on the chassis of a 10-ton M1075 tractor (wheel arrangement 10 x 10). The M1075 tractor was developed on the basis of a heavy off-road truck with a loading system (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck with Load Handling System (HEMTT-LHS)) from Oshkosh Truck Corporation. The total mass of the launcher is 40 tons, length is 12 m and height is 3.25 m. It takes 30 minutes to reload. The THAAD launchers are air transportable and can be transported on C-141 heavy cargo aircraft. Reloading the launcher takes 30 minutes. The anti-missile transport and launch container weighs 370 kg, its length is 6.6 m, width is 0.46 m.

Multifunctional radar station

The multifunctional radar GBR-T or GBR from Raytheon (operating frequency about 10 GHz) has a range of up to 1000 km. It is created in a transportable version. The radar includes a control unit with three operator workstations on an M998 vehicle chassis, a hardware van with phased array antenna (phase array) control and signal processing equipment, an antenna on a vehicle platform, a semi-trailer for liquid cooling of the phased array and a mobile power supply. The connection between the station control center and the equipment van and the command post (CP) of the THAAD anti-missile system is provided via a fiber-optic cable. In this case, the distance between the radar and the control point can reach 14 km.

The PAR aperture area is about 9 m2. Its elevation angle control in the range of 10 - 60° is carried out electromechanically. During combat work, the elevation angle is fixed in the optimal position for a particular shooting case. The lower limit of electronic scanning of the phased array radiation pattern is 4° above the horizon.

An autonomous power supply source is created on the basis of a three-phase electric unit with a capacity of more than 1 MW. A diesel or gas turbine engine and an electric generator were considered as options. Both types of engines are designed for long-term continuous operation at altitudes above sea level up to 2.4 km, providing shaft power of 0.9 - 1.5 MW at a temperature of 25 ° C. For a three-phase electric generator, the output power was limited to 0.3 MW at the generated voltage 2.4-4.16 kV.

Under the terms of the contract, three samples of the GBR-T radar were manufactured: one experimental (used to support the first four THAAD missile launches at the White Sands training ground in order to test the final stage of the demonstration phase and confirm the technical feasibility of the project) and two experimental combat ones, designated UOES (User Operational Evaluation System) and intended for inclusion in the PRK in test-combat performance. This complex, if necessary, can be transferred and deployed in areas of real combat operations. Elements of the GBR radar are air transportable and can be redeployed by the C-141 transport aircraft.

Complex command post

The command post of the complex with this radar is the THAAD combat control system. At the same time, it is a tactical control center for combat operations of missile defense forces and means in the theater of operations and solves combat control tasks at the division-battery link. Along with guiding anti-missile missiles to ballistic targets, it can also provide the necessary information about the presence of targets for short-range interception systems of the Patriot, PAK-Z, MEADS types or the Aegis multifunctional weapon system.

The battery command post (the smallest autonomous PRK unit, consisting of a command post, GBR-T radar and three to nine launchers) includes two pairs of combat command and missile launch control cabins (KBU and KUPR). In addition, one ICPR is deployed in each battery to ensure interaction between its PU and CP. Two more cabins of both types can be included in the battery to receive and pre-process information coming from another GBR-T radar (for example, from a neighboring battery or division).

Equipment sets for combat control and missile launch control cabins, developed by Litton Data Systems, are placed on the chassis of a 1.25-ton all-terrain vehicle. Each of them is provided with one and two automated operator workstations, respectively, as well as the necessary means of communication. The KBU has three (KUPR has one) high-performance special computers HP-735 from Hewlett-Packard. They are a 32-bit computer operating at a clock frequency of 125 MHz. To support target distribution tasks, the command post uses external target designation data from various information and reconnaissance means: space (satellite "Brilliant Eyes", "Imeyus"), air (AWACS, "Hawkeye", JSTARS), sea (ACS SES) and ground (early warning radar "Beamyus" and others) based.

At the same time, it allows you to direct up to two anti-missile missiles at each selected ballistic target according to the “fire - control - fire” principle, and also, taking into account data from the NAVSTAR space radio navigation system, transmit the necessary information about the air target situation to control points of short-range interception systems, in particular air defense systems "Patriot". In addition, this information, using communication and data distribution equipment JTIDS, noise-resistant VHF radio stations such as SINCGARS and the automated mobile switched communication system of the army corps MSE (Mobile Sub-scriber Equipment) through interface nodes with the fiber-optic distribution network, can be supplied to other consumers, including at the command post of the interacting tactical aviation forces of the US Air Force. It is also intended to be used in the interests of issuing preliminary target designation to allied missile defense/air defense forces and means.

Flight tests

Initially, it was planned to carry out a series of flight tests of the THAAD missile launcher - 20 launches of its experimental samples. However, taking into account the need to make changes (to ensure resistance to the damaging effects of a nuclear explosion) in the design of the main elements of the complex, the implementation of which cost more than $80 million, this number was reduced to 14 in the interests of saving financial resources (the remaining six PRs are planned to be used in as backup).

As of April 1, 1998, seven THAAD launches were carried out, of which four were launched in 1995 (April 21, August 1, October 13 and December 13), in 1996 - two (March 22 and July 15) and 1997 - one (March 6). The purpose of the first flight test was to test the flight performance characteristics of the anti-missile missile, as well as assess the accuracy of its launch to a given point in space. 1 minute after launch, the missile passed the design point at an altitude of 115 km, after which it was eliminated by command from the ground.

The second flight test according to the scenario was similar to the previous one. During the flight, the PR performed a special maneuver designated TEMS (THAAD Energy Management Steering). It consists in the fact that initially the anti-missile missile moves along a trajectory close to horizontal, and then is switched to vertical flight mode with the homing head reaching the target capture zone. However, due to a malfunction (short circuit) in the on-board control system, the tail skirt did not open, as a result of which the PR speed in the middle section of the trajectory exceeded the specified one. To prevent the anti-missile from leaving the test area, it was eliminated at the end of the first minute of the flight.

According to the original plans, during the third test of the missile launcher it was planned to actually intercept the target missile. However, due to a malfunction identified in the previous experiment, experts were afraid that it might go beyond the test site, and as a result, the interception was excluded from the experimental plan. After the launch of the anti-missile missile, the aerodynamic planes of the tail skirt opened as usual and, in accordance with the flight program, it only completed the planned TEMS maneuver. Its IR seeker normally worked out the targeting algorithm for a conditional target, after which the PR self-destructed at a given point in space.

Thus, the main task of the third test (evaluating the functioning of the IR seeker) was successfully completed. The results obtained in the course of it served as the basis for further improvement of the software of the on-board PR computer. In addition, during the test, elements of the standard automated command post and multifunctional radar of the GBR-T complex were used for the first time. Moreover, the latter was used only for searching and detecting a target. The missile launcher and target were tracked by a specialized radar at the White Sands training ground.

The purpose of subsequent experiments was to demonstrate the interception of a real ballistic missile, for which two-stage targets "Storm" were used (the first stage was the modernized OTR "Sergeant" engine, and the second was the third stage of the Minuteman-1 ICBM) and "Hera" (based on the second and the third stages of the Minuteman-2 ICBM). The first of them was used in the fourth and fifth launches, and the second in the sixth and seventh. According to Western press reports, their results were considered unsuccessful, since the PR never hit the target.

During the fourth test, the PR was launched 5 minutes after the start of the target. The anti-missile missile successfully completed all the necessary maneuvers. Its seeker timely captured and steadily tracked the target, which, however, was not hit. Subsequent analysis of telemetric information received from the missile launcher showed that before the launch, an error was made when loading the initial target designation data into the inertial guidance system. As a result, a number of unplanned trajectory correction commands were issued to the anti-missile missile from the ground. As a result, the separation of the interception stage did not occur at the design point and there was not enough fuel in the engine of its maneuvering system to complete the final maneuver.

The flight control of the PR, as in the previous experiment, was carried out using a specialized range radar (the GBR-T station was used as a backup).

The difference between this experiment and the others was that the launch of the PR was carried out for the first time with a standard launcher. In the initial and middle sections of the trajectory, the anti-missile missile flew without deviations. However, after separation, the interception stage continued to move along a ballistic trajectory due to the failure of the seeker's electronic equipment. In this regard, an emergency detonation was carried out at the command of the site security service.

The main objective of the sixth THAAD test (target destruction) was not achieved. Its interception stage flew a few meters from the target, after which it self-destructed. As Western experts note, the failure was also caused by the failure of the seeker’s electronic equipment. The radar station and launcher were functioning normally.

During the seventh test launch of the anti-missile missile, the target was once again not hit due to a malfunction in the PR control system, which did not perceive trajectory correction commands. The radar and launcher operated normally.

Thus, during four flight tests of the THAAD missile launcher, the target was never intercepted. Despite this, the US Congress raised the question of the need to continue work on this project due to its importance for the implementation of the theater missile defense program as a whole.

In total, in 1998 - 1999, seven more launches of experimental anti-missile samples were carried out, two of which resulted in a direct hit of the anti-missile missile on targets on June 10 and August 2, 1999.

Full-scale development of the PKK is expected to begin in 1999, and it will be adopted by the US ground forces in 2006. Since 2005, pre-serial production of the complex has begun, with a production rate of 40 interceptor missiles per year achieved by 2007.

At the same time, the possibility of using THAAD missile launchers in a shipborne long-range interception missile system is being studied. To do this, according to experts from the Lockheed Martin Corporation, it is necessary:

• adapt the missile launcher to fire from Mk41 vertical launch systems and integrate it with the ship's Aegis multifunctional weapon system;
• retrofit the missile launcher with a Mk72 launch accelerator for the ship's Standard-2 missile defense system mod.4;
• install a pre-acceleration module with axial thrust solid propellant rocket engine between the interception stage and the main engine;
• replace the existing liquid engine of the maneuvering and attitude control system with a solid fuel engine in the interception stage.

In addition, the option of equipping the missile launcher with a promising interception stage of the KKV type, developed by the Lockheed Martin corporation for anti-missile missiles used in air-launched missile launchers based on the Global Hawk UAV, is also being considered.

Thus, according to American experts, in the 21st century, the THAAD anti-missile missile as part of the anti-missile system of the same name will become one of the main means of combating ballistic targets of a promising theater missile defense system.

The US military plans to purchase from 80 to 88 launchers, 18 multifunctional radars and 1,422 interceptor missiles. It is planned to equip two battalions with them, each of which will have 4 anti-missile batteries.

Information sources

Colonel V. RUDOV "AMERICAN ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM THAAD", Foreign Military Review, No. 09, 1998

The US military conducted a successful test of the THAAD missile defense system in Alaska, during which a medium-range ballistic missile was hit.

The Pentagon successfully tests the THAAD missile

Head of the US Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency, Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves stated that these tests showed the capabilities of the THAAD system and its ability to intercept and destroy modern ballistic missiles.

In addition, the Pentagon said that these tests should not be linked to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, which is quite significant given that the United States recently delivered such systems to this region - formally to combat the "threat" posed by North Korea's missile program , but in fact – for the development of its global missile defense system.

It is also interesting that the distance between Alaska and Hawaii is 5 thousand kilometers, and this suggests - to use the terminology - that the THAAD system is capable of fighting not only medium-range ballistic missiles of the DPRK, but also missiles that are in service with Russia and China.

Expert at the Center for Strategies and Technologies Sergey Denisentsev in conversation with FBA "Economy Today" noted that the presence of such missiles on the territory of the Korean Peninsula, in any case, will seriously change the strategic balance of forces in this important region of the world.

In the coming years, the presence of THAAD will become a trump card in the hands of the Americans

Naturally, the basing zone of domestic strategic nuclear submarines from the Pacific Fleet is located much further to the north, and the routes of Russian ground-based ballistic missiles run through the North Pole, but still this fact must be taken into account, as well as the fact that the real characteristics of THAAD are higher than those originally stated .

“The fact is that any missile defense system changes the strategic balance of forces, and in this THAAD is also a threat and a destabilizing factor, and, if we are talking about South Korea, not so much for Russia as for China,” states Denisentsev.

It may be recalled here that the entire strategy of the PRC, including the construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, is aimed at ensuring an acceptable level of operational freedom for its strategic forces, and in this regard, the deployment of THAAD in South Korea will be another important factor, which Beijing will have to constantly reckon with.

“As for the THAAD system itself in the context of its comparison with Russian analogues, our modern complexes such as S-300 and S-400 have similar functions, but you need to understand that these are anti-aircraft, not anti-missile systems. In practice, this is far from the same thing the same, since the fight against missiles is still a separate topic,” concludes Denisentsev.

The USA realized the advantages of the nineties

It should be recalled here that during the Cold War, missile defense problems were regulated by the ABM Treaty, which was signed by Moscow and Washington in 1972 and was in force until 2002, when the United States unilaterally withdrew from this agreement.

At that time, our countries were in different situations - Russia was just beginning to move away from the nineties, and the United States began an active phase of developing almost ready-made anti-missile systems, as a result of which it should not be surprising that the Americans took the lead here.

“The THAAD system began to be developed in the United States much earlier than our analogues, so the level of technical readiness of this military weapon in the context of countering ballistic missiles is still higher than that of its Russian analogues,” summarizes Denisentsev.

In this regard, the first Russian missile defense system, where the fight against ballistic missiles will not be optional, but one of the main tasks, will be the promising S-500 complex.

This system will apply the principle of a separate solution for the destruction of ballistic and aerodynamic targets, and its main combat mission will be the fight against combat equipment of ballistic missiles, i.e. directly with nuclear warheads.

Any missile defense system changes the strategic balance of power in the world

Interestingly, this circumstance allowed the American publication National Interest call the S-500 a direct analogue of THAAD, although, in fact, the range of tasks of the Russian system is much wider.

“The Russian S-500 system is not ready yet, since the development of such a complex is a very complex process, but the Americans with THAAD already have everything working. This is not surprising, since they started working much earlier, attracted more forces and resources, and also conducted many tests before this event in the skies over Alaska,” states Denisentsev.

Thus, we can conclude that in the case of THAAD, the Americans realized their very serious advantage in time, although it must be understood that the presence of such a system will not change the strategic balance of power between Russia and the United States. At the same time, THAAD's presence in South Korea could have a significant impact on neighboring states.

“When we talk about Russia’s interests, several deployed THAAD systems will not change anything, but this, in turn, will become a factor for the United States to put pressure on other nuclear countries in the region. However, if at some point near the borders of Russia the United States puts many such systems, and they are supplemented with other components, including, for example, space-based missile defense systems, then all this will become a threat to our country,” Denisentsev concludes.

The U.S. Army deployed one of its seven terminal high altitude interception missile (THAAD) batteries to Romania. This deployment coincides with the closure of the Aegis Ashore ground-based missile defense system also located in Romania for a planned upgrade.

Installation of THAAD missile defense battery equipment began on May 17, 2019 near the location of the Aegis Ashore ground-based missile defense system. The US Army and the US Department of Defense independently first posted at least one photo of the installation being prepared for combat duty, and then quickly deleted it. Some websites have saved this photo.

The deployment of the THAAD missile defense system is a controversial issue. This system, in theory, has the same capabilities as the Aegis Ashore missile defense systems and helps close the gap created during the temporary suspension of the Aegis complex.

However, the installation of THAAD batteries causes a hostile reaction from the Russian leadership, as was the case with the Aegis Ashore ground-based system. Russia “does not understand what tasks the Aegis Ashore system will perform in the anti-missile field,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at the end of April 2019.

The Pentagon and NATO have repeatedly tried to explain the reasons for the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system. “At NATO's request, the Secretary of Defense will deploy a U.S. Army high-altitude terminal intercept missile defense system to Romania this summer in support of NATO's missile defense system,” a U.S. European Command spokesman said in early April 2019.

“The THAAD missile defense system from the 69th Artillery Air Defense Brigade, 32nd Air and Missile Defense Command will be integrated into the existing missile defense architecture for a limited period of time this summer, when planned maintenance and modernization of the Romanian ground-based missile defense system takes place "Aegis Ashore"

As of early 2019, the US Army had received approximately 200 missiles for its seven THAAD batteries and approximately 40 launchers. The US Missile Defense Agency on its website calls THAAD "a ground-based element capable of shooting down ballistic missiles both in the atmosphere and beyond."

US ground forces have THAAD missile defense batteries on the island of Guam, as well as in South Korea. In March 2019, the US Army deployed one THAAD battery to Israel.

Context

Uncle Sam's Hidden Intentions

People's Daily 08/02/2016

Russia will wait: China will tell the US everything itself

Ming Bao 04/05/2017

TNI: US anti-missile system is heading to Europe

The National Interest 04/16/2019 Aegis Ashore is a ground-based version of the US Navy SM-3 missile defense system. The US Missile Defense Agency, through NATO, operates Aegis Ashore ground-based systems in Poland and Romania. These installations help protect Europe and the United States from limited missile attacks from Middle Eastern powers such as Iran.

However, the United States' missile defense system has been a source of resentment in Russia for decades. Moscow views U.S. missile defense systems as a threat to the global balance of power because they could theoretically render Russian nuclear-tipped missiles ineffective. In fact, most US missile defense systems lack the speed, range and accuracy to intercept ICBMs.

Only US ground-based mid-range missile defense systems in Alaska and California, both designed to intercept North Korean missiles, have demonstrated the ability to defeat some intercontinental ballistic missiles in test tests.

Many Russians mistakenly believe that ground-based Aegis Ashore systems can be equipped with surface-to-surface missiles and therefore could be used in a surprise first strike. Aegis Ashore missile defenses "are the cause of a specific Russian fear," said Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear weapons expert at the Monterey-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

According to him, many Russians believe that the United States is secretly planning to equip its anti-missile installations in Poland and Romania with nuclear warheads, thus turning them into what Lewis calls a “covert” strike force whose true purpose is to launch a nuclear surprise attack. a strike on Moscow in order to “decapitate” the Russian leadership.

"It's crazy, but they're 100 percent sure of it," Lewis said, referring to the Russians.

NATO emphasizes that neither Aegis Ashore nor THAAD pose a threat to Russia. “The THAAD battery will be under the operational control of NATO and under the full political control of the North Atlantic Council,” the alliance statement emphasized. “It will be in combat condition only until the Aegis Ashore complex returns to its place in Romania.” The upgrades and deployment are expected to continue for several weeks.”

“In accordance with NATO's missile defense system, the operation of THAAD batteries will be directed against potential threats arising outside the Euro-Atlantic area. The Aegis Ashore complexes deployed in Romania are purely defensive systems.”

David Ax is the defense editor of National Interest magazine. He is the author of the graphic novels War Fix, War is Boring, and Machete Squad.

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.

The THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, formerly called Theater High Altitude Area Defense) mobile ground-based anti-missile system is designed for high-altitude, trans-atmospheric interception of medium-range missiles when creating a zoned missile defense system in a theater of military operations (TVD).

The general contractor is Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.

The plan for creating a theater missile defense system provided for the following stages of work:

At the first stage (1993-1995), the main efforts were focused on completing the modernization and testing the Patriot air defense system. This complex is capable of hitting ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 40 km and at altitudes of about 20 km. Further improvement of the Patriot PAC-3 complexes is associated with the use of Erint anti-missile missiles, which have high accuracy. To protect Marine Corps units from attacks from tactical missiles, it was planned to complete the modernization of the Improved Hawk air defense system with the new AN/TPS-59 radar. Covering the coastal airborne forces from missile attacks is entrusted to the modernized Aegis ship-based air defense systems using the Standard-2 missile defense system.

In addition, the combat control system was modernized, which had limited capabilities for detecting, processing and transmitting data on the launch of ballistic missiles and calculating their flight trajectory. To this end, the tactical information processing and communication system was improved so that it could use data from the Imeus space detection system. The information received from it makes it possible to more accurately calculate the launch point, flight path, estimated impact points of ballistic missiles and transmit the necessary information to the radar of anti-missile systems. Work was carried out to modernize the ship's SPY-1 radar, which should provide detection and tracking of ballistic missiles, as well as assets included in the Air Force (Awaks and Jistar control systems).

At the second stage (1996-1999), the main efforts were aimed at developing and testing the THAAD missile defense system and creating a zone defense that would minimize damage in the event of an enemy strike with ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear, chemical or biological munitions. The THAAD mobile missile defense system is designed to defeat ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 200 km and altitudes of up to 150 km. With its help, the first line of zonal missile defense will be created. The characteristics of the THAAD complex allow it to sequentially fire at one ballistic missile with two anti-missiles according to the “launch-assess-launch” principle, that is, the second anti-missile will be launched if the first one does not hit the target. In the event of a miss of the second anti-missile missile, the Patriot air defense system is put into operation, which will receive target designations from the GBR radar about the broken ballistic missile. According to the calculations of American experts, the probability of hitting a missile with such a two-echelon missile defense system will be more than 0.96. Work is underway to study the possibility of deploying THAAD interceptor missiles on ships to combat advanced ballistic missiles. In addition, the Diamond Eyes space system should be deployed to detect launches and track ballistic missiles.

Compound

The THAAD anti-missile (see diagram) consists of a warhead and an engine. The only (separable) stage is the solid propellant starting motor. The missile is equipped with a thrust vector control system and gas-dynamic spoilers in the nose. Interceptors begin to work soon after launch and provide control during movement. Thus, the flight of the rocket at the launch and middle sections of the trajectory is controlled using the rotating nozzle of the sustainer solid propellant engine. The characteristics of this engine ensure that the missile accelerates to a speed of about 2.5 km/s, making it possible to implement the concept of “re-firing” a ballistic target. The tail of the rocket is a flexible, self-regulating and adaptable conical stabilizer to flight conditions, consisting of movable aerodynamic segment planes that rest on special gas bags. This design solution enhances the stabilizing effect when aerodynamic forces act on the rocket.

The intermediate compartment connecting the launch accelerator with the warhead contains a pyrotechnic composition, which, when exploding, separates the launch accelerator from the warhead.

The missile's warhead is a highly maneuverable direct-hit interceptor, the Kill Vehicle. This part of the missile is a technically complex device that searches for, locks on and then destroys a target using only high-speed kinetic energy. A special fairing covers the interceptor during the atmospheric portion of the flight. This is necessary to reduce aerodynamic drag and protect the homing head window from aerodynamic heating. One of the main features of the interceptor is a gyro-stabilized multispectral infrared homing head (IR-GOS) with a sapphire window, made on the basis of indium antimonide (operating range 3-5 μm). In addition to the IR seeker, the interceptor is equipped with a command-inertial control system, a computer, a power supply, as well as a DACS (Divert Attitude Control System) maneuvering and orientation propulsion system, which ensures precise maneuvering of the missile along the trajectory.

Each division includes:

Radar for detecting and tracking ballistic targets GBR(Ground Based Radar),

control center BM/C41,

launchers (4 pieces),

anti-missiles "THAAD" (60 pieces).

The BM/C41 control center is mounted on a multi-purpose vehicle chassis and can function as a tactical command post for a division T.O.S.(Tactical Operation Station) and launcher fire control point LCS(Launcher Control Station). In an LCS configuration, the control center provides information exchange with other LCSs and transfers information to the TOS. Each battery has several BM/C41 control points. Their interchangeability ensures multiple redundancy of the fire control system, which increases the combat stability of the complex as a whole.

The GBR multifunctional radar solves the problems of detecting, tracking, identifying and classifying targets, as well as guiding anti-missile missiles to the target in the initial part of the trajectory. The GBR radar uses an active phased array antenna in the X band with an antenna area of ​​about 10-15 m2 and a number of elements of about 24,000.

When developing the THAAD anti-aircraft missile system, special attention is paid to the possibility of its rapid redeployment and deployment. To significantly reduce the weight of the equipment, advanced technology and microelectronics were used in its production. So, if the redeployment of two divisions of the Patriot air defense system to Saudi Arabia during the war in the Persian Gulf required 73 sorties of the C-5A aircraft, 123 sorties of the C-141 aircraft, 14 civilian airliners and 23 sea vessels, then the transfer of two divisions of the THAAD air defense system will require only 50 sorties of the C-141 aircraft.

Performance characteristics

Testing and operation

Testing of the complex began on April 21, 1995 at the White Sands training ground and continued with varying success until 1999. Only the ninth launch, on March 29, 1999, demonstrated the functionality of the complex as a whole. During this flight, despite the failure of the interceptor's attitude control system at 23 seconds of flight and the cessation of receiving telemetric information at 58 seconds, the interceptor passed in close proximity to the Hera target missile.

During the tenth test launch on June 10, 1999, a target simulating an SCAD missile was successfully intercepted for the first time, and the technical feasibility of such an interception was confirmed.

On August 2, 1999, during the eleventh test, a target simulating the separating warhead of a SKUD-type ballistic missile was intercepted in the upper atmosphere.