The THAAD system is designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their final phase of flight. Instead of using explosive warheads, THAAD relies on kinetic energy to neutralize incoming missiles by colliding with them at high speeds. The system’s radar and interceptors allow it to detect and destroy threats both inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Each THAAD battery typically includes six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, a radar system, and a command-and-control unit. A crew of approximately 95 U.S. soldiers operates the system.
This deployment follows Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1, 2024, during which Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles, including the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile. Unveiled by Iran in 2023, the Fattah-1 can reportedly travel at hypersonic speeds and change trajectory mid-flight. While the U.S. has not yet encountered the Fattah-1 in combat, the THAAD deployment offers a chance to assess whether the system can counter this new Iranian missile.
THAAD is believed to be well-suited to defend against high-altitude ballistic missiles like those fired by Iran. These missiles ascend into the Earth’s atmosphere before re-entering and descending toward their targets at immense speeds, which makes traditional air defense systems less effective. However, THAAD’s long-range radar and high-speed interceptors are designed to engage such threats in their terminal phase, when they re-enter the atmosphere and are most vulnerable to interception.
In contrast to Israel’s existing defense systems, such as Iron Dome and David’s Sling, which target short- and medium-range threats, THAAD is optimized for long-range, high-altitude missile threats. It complements Israel’s Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, which target long-range threats at different flight phases.
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According to a popular open-source intelligence monitor on X, an Israeli source indicated that the THAAD battery currently being deployed will not be accompanied by its own AN/TPY-2 radar. Instead, Site 512’s existing AN/TPY-2 radar and command-and-control systems will be utilized for the THAAD battery’s operations.
Many are unaware of the U.S. military’s long-standing presence at Site 512, a top-secret radar facility located atop Mount Har Qeren in southern Israel. Operated by the 1st Space Brigade of the U.S. Army, the site houses around 300 U.S. servicemembers and is equipped with advanced early-warning systems, including an AN/TPY-2 radar focused on missile threats from Iran.
A report by Intelligence Online from October 2023 also suggested that Site 512 may have hosted THAAD components prior to this deployment, specifically in response to Houthi ballistic missile attacks on Israel. While unconfirmed, this raises the possibility that personnel stationed at the base may already have experience implementing the system. If accurate, this would indicate that THAAD’s presence in Israel might not have been limited to the 2019 training exercise.
Related:
Why US is sending troops, prized air defense system to Israel
Prior to Sunday’s announcement, the U.S. had sent Israel a THAAD battery after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and in 2019 for training, according to the Pentagon.
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The Pentagon has been evasive as to how many U.S. troops are on the ground in Israel, where it operates a secretive facility in the country’s Negev desert called Site 512, used for radar and missile defense. Washington also opened its first permanent base in Israel in 2017 near the city of Beersheba, also in the Negev desert.
U.S. intelligence officers and special forces were also deployed to Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, who killed some 1,200 in the country and took 250 hostages, with Americans reportedly helping primarily with hostage recovery.
And over the spring, when the U.S. built and briefly operated a failed humanitarian pier off the coast of Gaza, American troops were working in the Israeli port city of Ashdod.
The U.S. already helped Israel defeat Iranian attacks in April and early October, using assets spread out across the Middle East. The U.S. has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East, as well as amphibious assault ships, a guided-missile submarine and numerous fighter jets.
Washington also has surged U.S. forces to the region, with as many as 43,000 troops in the Middle East after the Pentagon last month announced it was sending an “additional few thousand” individuals.
“Site 512,” A Top Secret US Military Base In Israel’s Desert to Monitor Iranian Missile Launches
Months before the recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S. Army allocated $32 million (equivalent to approximately RM153 million) to construct additional housing facilities for its troops stationed at this secret military site.
This likely indicates efforts to increase the presence of U.S. military personnel at “Site 512” and to expand its long-range radar capabilities in Israel.
There is also a potential plan to add about 1,000 U.S. troops to “Site 512”, as reported the country media several months ago.
U.S. to Deploy Missile Defense System and About 100 Troops to Israel + More Updates
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