THAAD Testing Set To Resume

The Missile Defence Agency (MDA) is set to resume testing of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense or THAAD system this fall. THe testing will resume at the Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The system has been revamped following problems that occured in testing during the late 90's. Following these tests, the system will be moved to the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, where more realistic testing can occur. At White Sands, the missile after it is launched has to execute a cockscrew manuver to bleed off energy to stay within the boundries of the range. THAAD is expected to be a backstop for the National missile shield located at Vandenburg and Ft. Greeley, AK

The Pentagon will start a new round of flight tests this fall to demonstrate the effectiveness of a revamped mobile system designed to destroy short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The pressure for success is high for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) after more than a decade of design problems with the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system.

The upcoming flight tests are timed to maintain initial deployment in 2009, despite congressional cuts and other program setbacks, according to U.S. Army Col. Charles Driessnack, MDA's Thaad project manager. Congress sliced $60 million from the program in Fiscal 2004, prompting Driessnack to restructure some elements, including ground tests.

Five flight tests are scheduled for Fiscal 2006, which begins this month. Three will test the missile's flight only. Another will focus on its seeker, and the final trail will be an intercept test. They will take place at the Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
THAAD is back