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| THAAD SYSTEM launching battery |
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is an anti-ballistic missile defense system designed by the Lockheed Martin and owned by the army of the United States of America to destroy incoming short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase by employing hit-to-kill approach.
The system relies on the kinetic energy of the interceptor instead of having warheads attached to it and thus significantly minimizes the risk of explosion of both conventional and nuclear ballistic missiles. The American Navy now operates one of its sea-based modified THAAD systems by the name “Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System” along with its land component.
This system has now been deployed in Turkey, United Arab Emirates and most recently in South Korea to deter incoming missiles.
How THAAD system exactly works?
The THAAD battery consists of the following four primary components: Launchers mounted on the truck, interceptors, a mobile radar system and a control system that communicates with the external command center. Firstly, The radar system in the battery locates an incoming threat. Secondly, the launchers launch an interceptor. This interceptor destroys the incoming missile at a high altitude by the use of kinetic energy. The interception at the large altitude largely saves the target from the negative consequences of the missile but can lead to some repercussions due to its destruction in the terminal phase.
What is the purpose of its deployment in South Korea?
The less-expensive Patriot Defense System protects South Korea from short range missiles but is unable to hinder the long-range North Korean missiles. The main idea behind the deployment of the THAAD System is to protect South Korea from the long-range incoming ballistic missiles when they are in the terminal phase.
American and South Korean stance on the installation
American and South Korean Governments have argued with some solid points in favor of the deployment. The two major points they put forward in their stance are as follows:
Firstly, The system is purely a defensive one with no detonation capabilities at all. Secondly, the system only shoots down missiles in their terminal phase and thus lacks the capability to counter Chinese missiles in case of an all-out war with the United States of America. The reason for this is that the missiles would have passed the THAAD system when they are still in their ascendancy towards the sky.
Why is China worried about the deployment of THAAD System?
If above the above arguments are so solid then why China is against it. The reason for this is the advanced radar capabilities it has that will come as a byproduct of the system.The deployment of this radar system will provide American missile defense system with a highly important capability of tracking Chinese missiles at a very early stage. This will severely erode Chinese capabilities to target American interests in case of a war.
What’s Chinese reaction so far?
The People’s Republic of China has retaliated to this deployment by taking some steps with an aim to hurt South Korea economically. China has placed restrictions on the Group that provided land for the deployment of THAAD System, even closed some of the group's stores in China. Chinse travel agencies have also stopped the sale of tickets to south Korea and the calls for boycotting South Korean products are growing in the country which can severely affect South Korean economic progress given the fact that China is the largest trading partner of South Korea.
These allegations of taking these steps have been rejected by the Chinese Government.
About Muhammad Asim
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