THAAD: In flight
(click to view full)
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a long-range, land-based theater defense weapon that acts as the upper tier of a basic 2-tiered defense against ballistic missiles. It’s designed to intercept missiles during late mid-course or final stage flight, flying at high altitudes within and even outside the atmosphere. This allows it to provide broad area coverage against threats to critical assets such as population centers and industrial resources as well as military forces, hence its previous “theater (of operations) high altitude area defense” designation.
This capability makes THAAD different from a Patriot PAC-3 or the future MEADS system, which are point defense options with limited range that are designed to hit a missile or warhead just before impact. The SM-3 Standard missile is a far better comparison, and land-based SM-3 programs will make it a direct THAAD competitor. So far, both programs remain underway.
The THAAD System
THAAD operations concept
(click to view full)
An ideal multi-layered anti-ballistic missile system should have both land and naval options, as well as theater-level and point defenses backed by a 3rd tier of longer ranged midcourse-defense missiles (q.v. GBI) and/or space-based weapons that can hit the missile during its boost phase. THAAD is a land-based, theater-level, terminal phase defense.
THAAD consists of 4 segments defined as (1) Missile round, (2) Launcher (3) Battle Management/Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence – BM/C3I, and (4) Radar. The THAAD system can work in centralized mode, in a decentralized group, or fully autonomous launcher mode.
THAAD is designed to be mobile on the ground, in order to react quickly to emerging threats and priorities. This also makes the system much more difficult to take out with preemptive attacks. A THAAD battery will typically operate 3-6 Oshkosh HEMTT-ALS heavy trucks as launch vehicles, each carrying 8 missiles (TL 24-48), complete with an automatic Load Handling System that lifts the missile packs onto the truck. The rest of the system involves Raytheon’s AN/TPY-2 Ground-Based Radar (GBR) for long-range scans, and a mobile Tactical Operations Center (TOC/TFFC) developed by Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
The size of the HEMTT trucks means that the full THAAD system requires C-17 Globemaster III or C-5 Galaxy aircraft for air transport. It can also be sent aboard ship, of course.
AN/TPY-2
(click to view full)
The THAAD Ground-Based Radar (GBR), now known as the AN/TPY-2, is an X-Band, phased array, solid-state radar developed and built by Raytheon at its Andover, MA Integrated Air Defense Facility. The TPY-2 is employed for surveillance at ranges of up to 1,000 km (600 miles) as well as target identification and target tracking, thanks to its high power output and beam/waveform agility. Targeting information is uploaded to the missile immediately before launch, and continuously updated during the flight.
The TPY-2 is deployed with THAAD, but it’s its own system, with modules for the radar, power, cooling, electronics, and operator control. It can also be used independently as part of a ballistic missile defense infrastructure, and is steadily carving out a wider role beyond THAAD.
THAAD components
(click to view full)
Lockheed Martin’s THAAD missile is powered by a single stage solid-propellant rocket motor with thrust vectoring. After burnout, the booster is separated from the kill vehicle, which continues to the interception point. For exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) maneuvering, the kill vehicle is equipped with a Boeing-developed liquid Divert and Attitude Control System. In the terminal intercept phase, the kill vehicle is guided by a BAE Systems staring focal plane array infrared seeker made with iridium antimonide, whose window is protected in the initial flight phase by a clamshell protection shroud. Once it reaches its target, the THAAD missile uses “hit to kill” technology, as opposed to blowing up a warhead nearby and sending clouds of shrapnel at a target to disable it.
THAAD missiles have an estimated range of 125 miles/ 200 km, and can reach a maximum altitude of 93 miles/ 150 km. By comparison, the Patriot PAC-3 has an estimated range of 12 miles/ 20 km, while the Boeing-Israeli Arrow 2 has an estimated range of 54 miles/ 90 km and can reach a maximum altitude of 30 miles/ 50 km. The naval SM-3 Standard missile, chosen as the theater defense weapon for the US-Japan ABM research program, has an estimated 300 statute mile/ 500 km range, but is believed to have a lower altitude maximum than THAAD.
THAAD 1.0 is deployed as the initial system, with 2 batteries active. THAAD 2.0 development work continues, with a projected finish date of 2018. The Army wants to improve THAAD performance in a high debris environment, add advanced discrimination algorithms, improve engagement coordination with Patriot and Aegis BMD, initiate THAAD engagements using sensor data from other BMDS sources like C2BMC, and perform other upgrades. Unfortunately, delays to the back-end theater-level C2BMC command system mean that some THAAD 2.0 capabilities won’t be fully operational until after 2020.
There have been proposals to more than double THAAD’s range by adding a 21″ diameter booster stage to the current 14.5″ missile, turning it into a 2-stage weapon with increased velocity and maneuverability. Tests were undertaken in 2006, and Lockheed Martin submitted a funding proposal for the FY 2011 budget. Nothing came of that, and the FY 2014 cancellation of the Navy’s next-generation “Next-Generation Aegis Missile” competition appears to have closed that door.
The THAAD Program
THAAD: Schedules and Tests
THAAD has been around for a long time, and was originally envisaged as a system that could be fielded on an emergency contingency basis by 1999. Problems with the system made initial fielding over a decade late, but demand from theater commanders remains high.
Launch!
(click to view full)
Between April 1995 and August 1999, there were a total of 11 THAAD flight tests that validated propulsion and seeker systems, and even attempted missile interceptions. The first attempt occurred during the 4th flight on December 13, 1995, but tests 4-9 all failed for mechanical/quality reasons and the first successful intercept did not occur before the 10th flight (FT-10) on June, 10 1999. See this CDI table for further details. In response, notes GlobalSecurity.org:
“Studies done by the military and independent sources cited the following problems in the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Program: First, the program’s compressed flight-test schedule did not allow for adequate ground testing, and officials could not spot problems before flight tests. The schedule also left too little time for preflight testing, postflight analysis, and corrective measures. Second, the requirement that an early prototype system be deployed quickly has diverted attention from the normal interceptor development process and resulted in interceptors that were not equipped with sufficient instruments to provide optimum test data. Third, quality assurance received too little emphasis and resources during component production, resulting in unreliable components. Fourth, the contract to develop the interceptor was a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, which placed all of the financial risk on the government and did not hold the contractor accountable for less than optimum performance.”
THAAD recorded one more positive test (FT-11) in August 1999. There were no further flight tests before June 2000, when Lockheed Martin received a $3.97 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract. Testing would eventually resume in November 2005. It was conducted cautiously, and went well.
The most common opponent for the THAAD in tests is the Hera, which marries the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Minuteman II ICBM, with the guidance section of the exceptionally accurate Pershing II medium range ballistic missile.
Early THAAD missile
(click to view full)
In December 2006, Lockheed Martin received a $619.2 million contract for initial THAAD fire units that could be usable in an emergency as the upper-tier complement to the Patriot PAC-3 in the Army’s TBMD (Theater Ballistic Missile Defense) system. The expected fielding date for Initial Operational Capability was 2008-2009, fully 10 years after initial hopes for this capability. In the end, technical issues have forced formal IOC back to 2013.
Full acceptance by the US Army and Full Operational Capability is expected in 2017.
THAAD: Budgets and Exports
The US Army was eventually expected to acquire 80-100 THAAD launchers, 18 ground-based radars, and a total of 1,422 THAAD missiles. Two THAAD battalions were planned, each with 4 batteries, plus an additional battery to make 9. Issues with missile production cut order number sharply in 2012 and 2013, and by the time they were resolved, the 2014 budget’s response to spending reductions was to cut the program total to 6 batteries and 11 TPY-2 radars.
Those order cuts may be replaced by THAAD exports.
In September 2008, the UAE requested permission to buy 9 THAAD launchers and associated radars and communications equipment, 147 missiles, etc., in order to field 3 THAAD fire units. A scaled-down contract was agreed at the end of December 2011. In November 2012, Qatar requested 2 fire units of its own.
THAAD’s role in the UAE ansd Qatar will mirror its role in the USA, alongside the Patriot PAC-3 as the UAE’s lower-tier ABM-capable complement.
The beneficiaries of all these orders include:
Contracts and Key Events
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the THAAD system, and the US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL manages the contracts. Raytheon’s AN/TPY-2 radar system contracts are sometimes covered here, but these radars are also deployed without THAAD, so they’ve been given their own Spotlight article.
FY 2016
THAAD production delayed
July 5/16: The US Missile Defense Agency has awarded Alaska Aerospace Corp. an $80.4 million contract to construct a gravel road, a couple gravel pads, and a Life Support Area to support testing of the of two THAAD interceptors at Kodiak Island. Congressman Don Young praised the decision saying “As a long-time advocate who helped bring missile defense to Alaska, this contract award is good news for Kodiak and Alaska Aerospace and even better news for the continued security of our country.”
February 9/16: Following some initial reservations over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, South Korea is to begin talks with the US over installing the system. Fears held by some in Seoul that a THAAD system on the Korean peninsula would anger China seem to have been alleviated by Sunday’s rocket launch by North Korea. The rocket was apparently launched to send a satellite into orbit and follows last month’s nuclear test which has garnered condemnation from the international community. This combination of testing has increased fears of Pyongyang’s development of inter-continental ballistic missile technology. Any THAAD system would be paid for by the US, with one battery costing around $1.3 billion.
January 15/16: A proposal to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems in South Korea is being reviewed by the government. A plan sent by the US forces based in the country is something Washington has wanted to do for some time as a wider ballistic missile defense plan for the region. Seoul has been reluctant to have it deployed as it may effect the often tentative relations with China, but recent nuclear tests by North Korea have put the idea back on the table.
December 30/15: Lockheed Martin has been given an additional order to provide an undisclosed number of production lots 7 and 8 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, one-shot weapons and related support services to the Missile Defense Agency. The $528.5 million contract modification sees an extra $144.6 million added to a pre-existing contract and will be completed by September 30 2019. The THAAD system protects the US and allied customers from short, medium and intermediate ballistic missile threats, and is operated and developed under the umbrella of the Missile Defense Agency.
December 1/15: South Korea may not need to install the THAAD missile defense just yet after the most recent failure of North Korea’s missile tests. It had been apparent that Pyongyang had been planning to test off the east coast of the peninsula after announcing a no-sail zone earlier this month. The failure will be a setback to North Korean plans to equip its submarines with below surface ballistic launching capabilities. Observers noted that the missile broke up underwater and failed to break the waters surface. Initial photographs of leader Kim Jong-un watching a successful test were quickly dismissed as state propaganda.
November 27/15: Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani has raised the possibility of installing the THAAD missile defense system in the country. The system would be installed to protect against any threat that may come potentially from North Korea, who have raised the possibility of testing missiles. Pyongyang announced a no sail zone off the east coast of the peninsula earlier this month between November 11 and December 7. Nakatani’s comments come along with speculation that South Korea and the US have been discussing the installation of THAAD by Seoul during talks over deterrence methods to threats from the North. These rumors have been downplayed by both countries.
November 24/15: Task Force Talon, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in Guam have completed their replacement of missiles. The exercise took place between September and November and involved a total replacement of its existing Interceptor stock to help maintain combat readiness. With a force of 200 soldiers, Task Force Talon is about a third of the size of the traditional air defense Patriot battalion. The exercise comes at a time of increased activity in the Pacific region and talks of installing further THAAD systems in South Korea which may be seen as a threat to an increasingly aggressive China.
November 3/15: A Standard Missile-3 Block IB (SM-3) interceptor failed to shoot down an extended medium-range ballistic missile (EMRBM) on Saturday following a malfunction, with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor system instead being used to take out the target. The SM-3 was used successfully earlier in October to shoot down a similar target off the north-west coast of Scotland, with this latest test part of a multiple-threat scenario test conducted in the western Pacific.
In addition to the interception of the EMRBM, an SM-2 Block IIIA was also used to simultaneously defend against a target drone aircraft, with the THAAD system also taking down a Short Range Air Launch Target (SRALT). The $230 million interception tests also involved the Aegis BMD system, including AN/SPY-1 radar system, as well as transportable AN/TPY-2 missile defense radars.
October 13/15: Lockheed Martin’s production of THAAD interceptors has been delayed owing to computer glitches. Only three out of 44 systems – destined for use by the Missile Defense Agency – have been delivered, with a revised delivery schedule now in place.
FY 2015
THAAD into South Korea?
March 19/15: Pentagon review. A major review has been launched by the Pentagon to assess the current state of play of missile defense systems, capabilities and programs, seeking to update a previous review from 2011. The Patriot is likely to come under scrutiny, as well as the THAAD system.
Feb 6/15: China allegedly warns South Korea on THAAD. For all of the questions that surfaced last May about whether South Korea would get THAAD (or wants it), or U.S. troops in R.O.K. would deploy one for themselves, or if South Korea’s on indigenous efforts would be up to snuff, the Chinese appear to be most worried about the U.S.’s system. Yonhap reports that Hong Lei, the Chinese foreign minister, warned South Korea a day after an exchange took place between the two countries’ defense ministers.
FY 2014
Purchases: USA, UAE; GAO and DOT&E report on THAAD performance and testing; THAAD and Air-Sea Battle; THAAD into South Korea?
THAAD TFCC
(click to view full)
Sept 25/14: UAE. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Dallas, TX receives an $11.1 million firm-fixed-price modification to the UAE’s THAAD contract, covering delivery of single missile round transportation containers, peculiar support equipment, THAAD fire control and communication spares, and launcher spares. All funds are committed immediately, and the modification brings the contract’s total cumulative face value to $349.7 million.
Work will be performed at, Dallas, TX; Lufkin, TX; Ocala, FL; and Camden, AR, with an expected completion date of June 30/15. The US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL (HQ0147-12-G-9000, 0001, 0069).
Sept 24/14: Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, CA receives a $274.8 million ceiling modification to previously awarded sole-source, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract.
The announcement doesn’t say what for, but it’s THAAD’s contract, and just $2.7 million in FY 2014 USAF RDT&E budgets are committed immediately. The ordering period runs through January 2017. Work will be performed at Sunnyvale, CA and Huntsville, AL. The US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL manages the contract (HQ0147-12-D-0001).
Aug 7/14: USA. A $124.6 million sole-sourced fixed-price contract from the US government for THAAD ground components: launchers, launcher spares, fire control and communication spares, and support equipment. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 MDA procurement budgets.
Work will be performed at Dallas, TX; Lufkin, TX; Huntsville, AL; Sunnyvale, CA; and Camden, AR, with an expected completion date of Aug 7/17 (HQ0147-14-C-0011). See also Lockheed Martin, “Lockheed Martin Awarded $124.6 Million THAAD Contract”.
May 27/14: Korea. The US government is considering THAAD as an option to protect American forces in South Korea, and has conducted a site survey for possible South Korean locations. The issue is that the ROK is developing its own national KAMD missile defense system, and continues to reiterate that it won’t be part of a joint system with the USA and Japan. Which means that interoperability with systems like THAAD is a potential issue.
The Americans are thinking in geo-political terms, as a visible response to North Korea, and there’s also that standard underlying flavor of “of course they want to do it our way”:
“The U.S. could deploy its own Thaad system to South Korea temporarily, and then, in time, replace it with a [THAAD] system purchased by Seoul, a defense official said. Or it could allow South Korea to purchase its own, and jump ahead in the queue for the system, the official said.”
Very American. The thought that perhaps South Korea is happy with its Green Pine radars that sit in the TPY-2’s niche, frequently says that terminal defense is all it can use, and would rather deploy its own Cheolmae 4-H missile developed in conjunction with Russia, never enters the picture. On the other hand, the Americans might reply that their own forces would rather have THAAD’s protection, that more than 2 long-range radars might be a good idea against an enemy whose war plan includes in-depth terrorist attacks, and that a common equipment roster of PATRIOT PAC-3 and THAAD systems could create a basis for independent command and control systems that can still cooperate. Sources: Wall St. Journal, “Washington Considers Missile-Defense System in South Korea”.
April 11/14: GAO Report. The Pentagon has been reluctant to develop a life-cycle cost estimate for BMD in Europe, on the dubious grounds that it isn’t a separate program. that’s why GAO-14-314 concerns itself with EPAA’s costs and implementation issues. THAAD batteries are an important ancillary part of that defense, but their role isn’t clear yet. The 6 batteries have an estimated O&M cost of $6.5 billion over 20 years, but that $54.17 million per battery per year involves basing in the USA. Costs for basing in Europe are expected to be higher. How much higher? We don’t know, because the US MDA and US Army can’t agree on how to do the analysis. How confused are things?
“DOD officials stated that they are examining options for forward-stationing some THAAD batteries overseas. Doing so would likely increase operating and support costs due to higher operational tempo, contractors that are deployed with the system, additional needed security, life-support facilities such as barracks and a mess hall, and site preparation for the equipment. For example, MDA recently estimated that operating and support costs for one THAAD battery in Guam could be $11 million higher annually than if the battery was located in the continental United States. However, this estimate does not include costs for military personnel, fuel, site activation, transportation, or some contractor costs. Further, costs could be even higher if an element is located at an austere location due to additional costs for site preparation, security, transportation, and some contractor costs. This estimate also assumes continued contractor support… [but] DOD has not yet completed a business-case analysis as part of determining the long-term support strategy…. the THAAD business-case analysis remains incomplete as of December 2013, and there is no firm deadline to complete the analysis.”
Meanwhile, the TPY-2 radar deployments to Turkey (2011) and CENTCOM (2013), still can’t share information and work together, because that hasn’t been worked out. That will hurt all EPAA systems, but THAAD in particular would have benefited.
March 14/14: GAO report. The GAO releases GAO-14-248R, regarding the USA’s EPAA plans for defending Europe from ballistic missiles. THAAD is included in passing.
THAAD was scheduled to get upgrades by 2015 that would help it distinguish real warheads within debris fields. Part of that has been implemented, but the full version won’t be ready until 2017. A 2nd set of upgrades scheduled for 2018 would have improved interoperability with other missile defense systems, and allowed launches using the C2BMC system’s composite tracking from multiple sources. Those interoperability software upgrades will be late, leaving very little time to ensure that they work during Phase 3 testing for the European EPAA project. In addition, the C2BMC capability in question has been pushed off until 2020 “or later”.
Jan 28/14: DOT&E Testing Report. The Pentagon releases the FY 2013 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). THAAD is included, and the overall report is fairly positive.
The FTI-01 test saw THAAD hit 1 incoming missile, and go into the debris field of an intercepted target by design. DOT&E describes the test as “performance in a significantly different portion of the battlespace than previous missions with increased ground range, interceptor flight time, and closing velocity, as well as new target re-entry vehicle characteristics.”
On the flip side, THAAD experienced data latency with Aegis BMD messages when the primary network connection was unavailable, and there were track correlation concerns with the AN/TPY-2 (TM) radar. Mission software reporting was sometimes incorrect, and some critical faults during testing weren’t relayed through the system at all. Overall, the 39 equipment & organizational conditions around Conditional Materiel Release of the first 2 THAAD batteries in February 2012 are down to 31, with 4 closed in FY13 (verification of technical manuals, procedures for a post-launch launcher inspection, verifying capability against medium-range targets, and procedures and equipment to measure soil density for emplacement). In addition, the classified DOT&E February 2012 THAAD and AN/TPY-2 Radar Operational and Live Fire Test and Evaluation Report contained 7 more recommendations. Fixes and testing of remaining conditions are scheduled through 2017.
Oct 22/13: Air-Sea Battle. The US Army would rather not become irrelevant to the Pacific Pivot, and they have some useful ideas to that end. Military.com acquired a copy of a Sept 25/13 paper, called “The Army’s Role in Countering Anti-Access and Area Denial: Support to Air-Sea Battle.” The paper reportedly proposes a combination of advanced air defense and short-range strike missiles, as a potential response that’s less overtly aggressive than naval battlegroups and less expensive to maintain on station, but still raises the bar for any aggressor. If Navy or Air Force units have to escalate afterward, they’d do so with a defensive umbrella in place that helps cover their entry.
Systems targeted for this approach include THAAD, as well as the short-range PATRIOT and even land-based EPAA-type SM-3 missiles for air and missile defense. Striking power would come from MLRS or HIMARS units firing 300 km ATACMS missiles, and the paper also contemplates the development of additional land-based missiles. They would include anti-ship versions of ballistic missiles, and a 1,000 km class deep precision strike ballistic missile. If this looks like a deployable lite-brand mirror of A2/AD (Anti-Access/ Area Denial) strategies being pursued by China et. al., well, it sort of is. Sources: Defense Tech, “Army Pushes To Upgrade Missile Defense Systems || Additional background from: Breaking Defense, “Army Shows Cheek, Elbows Its Way Into AirSea Battle Hearing” (Maj. Gen. Gary Cheek, Army point for Air-Sea Battle) | Eaglespeak, “The Anti-Access/Area Denial U.S. Army and the Air/Sea Battle” | Midrats podcast, “Episode 195: The Pacific Pivot Ground Element”.
FY 2013
Purchases: US, UAE; Requests: Qatar, UAE; FTO-1.
FTO-1 launch
(click to view full)
Sept 20/13: US/ UAE. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, CA receives a $3.92 billion fixed-price-incentive-firm contract modification for THAAD interceptors from the USA and United Arab Emirates, and associated ground hardware for the UAE.
The UAE’s $2.706 billion order is a continuation of purchases (q.v. Dec 30/11, June 5/12) under the Sept 9/08 and Nov 5/12 Foreign Military Sales cases, which encompass 3+ Fire Units and up to 195 missiles. Under this order, they’ll receive 192 THAAD interceptor missiles, 16 Single missile round containers, and 16 Active leak sensor systems. Their total THAAD missile orders now stand at 288, and a priced option (Letter of Offer and Acceptance Amendment 01) could create additional orders. Production will run into Lot 6.
The US Army’s $862.4 million portion finalizes the production Lot 4 contract, and the order could rise to $1.215 billion and 110 interceptor missiles if next year’s $352.7 million FY 2014/ Lot 5 option is exercised by Dec 31/13. Current contracts involve 5 US Army THAAD batteries, with final Battery 3 & 4 deliveries expected by the end of the calendar year. These missiles are part of Battery 5.
Deliveries under these orders will take place from FY 2015 – FY 2019. Work will be managed in Sunnyvale, CA, with performance at Lockheed Martin’s Pike County facility in Troy, AL (missiles); Huntsville, AL (US MDA); and Camden, AR (launchers and control units). The Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL acts as the Army’s contracting agent, and performs the same role for the UAE (HQ0147-07-C-0196). See also Lockheed Martin, Sept 23/13 release.
US & UAE order
Sept 10/13: FTO-1 Test. A successful joint test of AEGIS BMD and land-based THAAD missiles from the Pacific Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site destroys 2 medium range target missiles.
The test involved full inter-operation. A land-based TPY-2 radar was positioned forward as the warning radar. It acquired the targets, and passed that onto the joint C2BMC (Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications) system. C2BMC cued DDG 74 USS Decatur, outfitted with AEGIS BMD 3.6.1 and the SM-3 Block IA missile. Decatur acquired the track, then launched its SM-3 and killed its target.
C2BMC also passed the track to a land-based THAAD battery’s own TPY-2 radar, which provided the intercept guidance for a successful pair of THAAD missile shots. The 2nd THAAD missile was actually aimed at the SM-3’s MRBM, in case it had failed to achieve intercept, but that turned out not to be necessary this time. Sources: US MDA, Sept 10/13 release | Lockheed Martin, Sept 11/13 release | Raytheon, Sept 10/13 release.
July 17/13: UAE. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Woburn, MA receives an $83.8 million sole-source, cost-plus-incentive-fee, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They’ll provide software updates, contractor logistic support, radar repair and return, and technical services for the AN/TPY-2 radars in the UAE’s THAAD missile defense batteries.
Work will be performed in Woburn, MA, White Sands Missile Range, NM, and the UAE through Sept 30/18. The US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL acts as the UAE’s FMS agent (HQ0147-12-C-0005).
June 18/13: UAE upgrade. Raytheon touts improvements to “a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) AN/TPY-2 radar”. So far, the only publicly-announced sale has been to the UAE, who will get a TPY-2 radar with 8 redesigned circuit card assemblies that improve the radar’s capabilities, while incorporating technologies and processes that weren’t available when Raytheon delivered the first AN/TPY-2 in 2004.
The new cards will be inserted into all new AN/TPY-2 radars Raytheon produces, but the USA is just about done with planned orders. The good news is, a swap-in upgrade shouldn’t be too expensive. Raytheon.
THAAD slips
(click to view full)
April 26/13: The GAO looks at the Missile Defense Agency’s full array of programs in report #GAO-13-342, “Missile Defense: Opportunity To Refocus On Strengthening Acquisition Management.” The good news is that the remainder of the missiles for the first 2 THAAD batteries have now been fixed and delivered. The bad news is that despite strong demand from theater commanders, the overall program has been reduced from a planned 9 batteries to 6, owing to budget constraints. In tandem, the planned number of AN/TPY-2 radars was cut from 18 to 11.
FY 2012 saw production resume with a July contract, but production is 4 months behind after faulty memory devices were found in some missile mission computers. To recover those delays, production will be ramped up from 3/month to 4/month – which is still well below the 6/month planned at this stage of the program. Missile batteries 3 & 4 will also incorporate a new “Thermally Initiated Venting System,” which keeps the missiles from launching or blowing up if overheated. It was redesigned in 2011, and is performing better, but the standards have never been applied to a missile this size. This part of the system may ultimately need a “best we can reasonably do” waiver before full acceptance of THAAD by the US Army in 2017. Another 320 interceptors will be produced from FY 2013 – 2017.
April 3/13: To Guam. The Pentagon announces that:
“The Department of Defense will deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) ballistic missile defense system to Guam in the coming weeks as a precautionary move to strengthen our regional defense posture against the North Korean regional ballistic missile threat.”
North Korean missiles may have a questionable ability to reach the USA, but Guam is another matter. It’s a US territory, so protecting its citizens matters as much as protecting its strategic harbor and airfield.
Nov 5/12: Qatar. The US DSCA announces [PDF] that Qatar wants to join its neighbor the UAE, and field 2 THAAD batteries of its own.
Their request is worth up to $6.5 billion, and includes up to 12 THAAD Launchers, 150 THAAD missiles, 2 THAAD Fire Control and Communications units, 2 AN/TPY-2 THAAD Radars, and 1 Early Warning Radar (EWR). The USA would also sell them the required trucks, generators, electrical power units, trailers, communications equipment, fire unit test & maintenance equipment, system integration and checkout, repair and return, training, and other support.
The principal contractor is Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corporation in Sunnyvale, CaA, and the sub-contractor is Raytheon Corporation in Andover, MA. Implementation of this proposed sale will require undetermined but periodic travel of up to 13 U.S. Government and contractor representatives for delivery, system checkout, and training.
Qatar request
Nov 5/12: UAE. The US DSCA announces [PDF] the United Arab Emirates official request to expand its THAAD purchases. They’re interested in another 9 THAAD launchers and 48 missiles, plus the accompanying test components, repair and return, training, and support.
The estimated cost is up to $1.135 billion, and the principal contractors would be Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corporation in Sunnyvale, CA and Raytheon Corporation in Andover, MA. Raytheon is an odd mention, since the DSCA request doesn’t include another AN/TPY-2 radar. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and implementation won’t require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the UAE. See Sept 9/08 for their previous request, which was only partially fulfilled in the Dec 30/11 contract.
UAE request
Oct 25/12: FIT-01. Pacific Chimera (aka. Flight Test Integrated-01) features a combination of land and sea missile defense systems, who go 4/5 against a combination of ballistic missile and cruise missile targets. The USA’s Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) system acted as FIT-01’s command and control backbone.
The Medium Range Ballistic Missile E-LRALT (Extended Long Range Air Launch Target) was launched out of a C-17, tracked by a US Army AN/TPY-2 radar on Meck Island, and destroyed by its companion THAAD missile.
A pair of Short Range Ballistic Missile targets were launched from a platform in the ocean. One was destroyed by a US Army PATRIOT PAC-3 system, but the USS Fitzgerald’s [DDG 62] attempt to intercept the 2nd SRBM target with a long-range SM-3 Block 1A missile failed. The problem turned out to be a faulty IMU chip.
The USS Fitzgerald had better luck with an SM-2 missile against a low flying cruise missile target, and the Army’s PATRIOT PAC-3 battery racked up a cruise missile kill of its own. US MDA | Lockheed Martin | Raytheon.
FY 2012
UAE. State of tests.
THAAD test launch
(click to view full)
July 17/12: A $150 million contract modification covers a combination of support equipment and additional launchers for Batteries 1 and 2; continuing production of missile Lots 3 & 4; and the manufacturing and delivery of Battery 5 launchers, THAAD fire control and communications.
It’s funded with FY 2010, 2011, and 2012 procurement dollars; and $10 million in FY 2010 funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/12. Deliveries will begin in FY 2014, and complete in FY 2016. This work will be managed in Sunnyvale, CA, with performance in Huntsville, AL, and Camden, AR (HQ0147-07-C-0196).
June 5/12: US/UAE missiles. The US MDA awards Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in Sunnyvale, CA an unfinalized, not-to-exceed $2.024 billion contract for a minimum of 138 THAAD interceptor missiles. The buy includes at least 42 American missiles under Lots 3 and 4, plus the United Arab Emirates’ unfinalized buy of 96 interceptors (HQ0147-12-G-9000, q.v. Dec 30/11 entry). It’s done as a joint purchase, in order to save money. Finalization of both contracts is expected by Nov 30/12.
Work will be managed in Sunnyvale, CA, with final assembly performed in Troy, AL. The performance period extends from June 4/12 through July 31/18. This action was synopsized as a sole-source requirement to LMSSC in FBO.gov, and 1 response was received. The US Missile Defense Agency’s THAAD Program Office at Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the contract (HQ0147-07-C-0196).
US/ UAE
April 20/12: The US GAO releases “Opportunity Exists to Strengthen Acquisitions by Reducing Concurrency.” That bland-sounding title masks critical coverage of THAAD’s acquisition approach, which won’t be fielding operational missile batteries until July 2012:
“Production issues forced MDA to slow production of the THAAD interceptors… A flight test originally scheduled for the second quarter of fiscal year 2011 was delayed until fiscal year 2012 due to the availability of air-launched targets and then subsequently was canceled altogether. This cancellation has delayed verification of THAAD’s capability against a medium-range target.
MDA awarded a contract to produce THAAD’s first two operational batteries in December 2006 before its design was stable… At that time, MDA’s first THAAD battery, consisting of 24 interceptors, 3 launchers, and other associated assets, was to be delivered to the Army as early as 2009. In response to pressure to accelerate fielding the capability, THAAD adopted a highly concurrent development, testing, and production effort that has increased program costs and delayed fielding of the first THAAD battery until early fiscal year 2012… During fiscal year 2011, after several production start-up issues, 11 of the expected 50 operational interceptors were delivered.[Footnote 18] Consequently, the first battery of 24 interceptors was not complete and available for fielding until the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 – more than 2 years later than originally planned. The same issues have delayed the second battery as well. Although the launchers and other components for the second battery were completed in 2010, the full 50 interceptors necessary for both batteries are not expected to be delivered until July 2012.”
March 27/12: Lockheed Martin announces a $66 million contract to continue THAAD development. Consultation with the firm reveals that this is part of the $515.4 million contract announced on Feb 3/12.
Feb 3/12: A maximum $515.4 million sole-source, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. in Sunnyvale, CA, for 5 years of THAAD upgrade development, integration, and testing. Examples of task orders include, but are not limited to, communications upgrades, obsolescence mitigation, flight and ground testing; and spiral development to further integrate THAAD in the broader Ballistic Missile Defense System architecture on land, sea and air.
Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, CA, and Huntsville, AL from Feb 1/12 through Jan 31/17. FY 2012 RDT&E (research, development, test and evaluation) funds will be used to incrementally fund the initial orders (HQ0147-12-D-0001).
Jan 17/12: DOT&E. The Pentagon releases the FY2011 Annual Report from its Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E). THAAD was included, and the results can be described as measured good news.
Test FTT-12 demonstrated THAAD’s ability to intercept 2 simultaneous short-range targets, while demonstrating the full battle sequences from planning to intercept, and collecting “technical data on intercepts far off the radar boresight and on performance against unique threat characteristics.” Reliability has improved from 2010, and THAAD also completed Phase 1 of its ground test program. There’s a bit more testing to go, but that was a necessary step toward an expected FY 2012 material readiness release, and transfer of the first 2 fire units from the US MDA to active service in the US Army.
The flip side is that THAAD’s lethality testing still has some gaps that need to be resolved, and some of that testing will have to take place after THAAD is released to the Army. Fortunately, the MDA targets program returned Coleman air-launched targets to flight in July 2011, removing a big barrier to testing. Target development and testing for the longer-range THAAD flight tests against medium-range missiles are set to start in FY 2012.
Dec 30/11: APY-2. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Woburn, MA receives a sole-source, maximum $363.9 million letter contract for 2 AN/TPY-2 radars. The contract will be finalized later. Work will be performed in Woburn, MA, and the period of performance is Dec 30/11 through March 30/15 (HQ0147-12-C-0006).
Raytheon’s release specifically identifies them as going “…to the U.S. Army as the radar component to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system”. Some TPY-2 radars have also been deployed independently.
Dec 30/11: UAE order. A series of contracts kick off the UAE’s THAAD deal (q.v. Sept 9/08 entry), which is estimated at $3.48 billion. It’s the 1st export sale for the THAAD system.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in Sunnyvale, CA receives a sole-source letter contract at a total not-to-exceed price of $1.96 billion to supply the United Arab Emirates with 2 full THAAD Systems, and provide support services. Work will be managed in Sunnyvale, CA, with final assembly performed in Troy, AL. Performance extends from Dec 30/11 through June 30/16. The US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL manages the contract, on behalf of its FMS client.
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Woburn, MA receives a sole-source letter contract, with a not-to-exceed value of $582.5 million, as an undefinitized contract action (UCA) to provide 2 AN/TPY-2 radars, spares, and training services to the United Arab Emirates. Work will be performed in Woburn, MA, and the period of performance is Dec 30/11 through Sept 30/18. This contract will be finalized in June 2012. The US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL manages the contract, on behalf of its FMS client (HQ0147-12-C-0005). See also Lockheed Martin | Raytheon | Bloomberg | AP | Reuters | Voice of America.TEXT
UAE order
Nov 1/11: The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awards Raytheon IDS of Woburn, MA a maximum $307.6 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Under this new contract, Raytheon will maintain software required to operate “the X-band family of radars,” and perform and Ballistic Missile Defense System test planning, execution and analysis. Discussions with Raytheon personnel confirmed that the funding applies to the XBR radar on the SBX naval platform, as well as their AN/TPY-2 radars (THAAD, European missile defense, deployed in Israel & Japan), and a “Ground Based Radar Prototype” that they’re working on as a technology demonstrator.
Work will be performed in Woburn, MA from Nov 1/11 through Oct 31/13, and the MDA’s FY 2012 research, development, test and evaluation funds will be used to fund initial orders. The MDA at Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the contract (HQ0147-12-D-0005).
FY 2011
NGAM Phase 1. TPY-2.
May 9/11: Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in Sunnyvale, CA receives a $60 million fixed-price-incentive, firm target contract modification to deliver 6 HEMMT transporters, 6 missile round pallets, and associated spares to support THAAD batteries 3 & 4. This order raises the total contract value to date to $1.64 billion.
Work will be managed in Sunnyvale, CA, with final assembly performed in Troy, AL; the performance period is extended from April 2011 to August 2013. $60 million in FY 2010 procurement funds will be used to fund this contract modification in its entirety (HQ0147-07-C-0196, #P00054).
April 7/11: TPY-2. Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Woburn, MA receives a $14 million sole-source cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to maintain and improve the AN/TPY-2 radar’s software. Work will be performed in Woburn, MA from April 2011 through June 2011, and $4 million in FY 2011 research, development, test and evaluation funds will be used to incrementally fund this effort.
This award beings total contract awards so far under (HQ0006-03-C-0047) to $1.936 billion.
April 7/11: NGAM Phase 1. The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announces a trio of Phase 1 cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon to work on the Next Generation AEGIS Missile/ SM-3 Block IIB. The firms will perform concept definition and program planning for their offerings, and the competition will winnow down as the MDA picks which concept(s) to develop further.
Lockheed Martin Corp. in Bethesda, MD wins a $43.3 million contract, which could allow the firm to build on previous talk of expanding THAAD to the same 21″ diameter as SM-3 Block II missiles, in order to increase its speed and range.
March 24/11: The US GAO issues report #GAO-11-372: “Missile Defense: Actions Needed to Improve Transparency and Accountability.” Key excerpts:
“However, the agency was unable to meet all of its goals for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, a system used to defend against targets in their last phases of flight… MDA finalized a new process in which detailed baselines were set for several missile defense systems… [but] GAO found its unit and life-cycle cost baselines had unexplained inconsistencies and documentation for six baselines had insufficient evidence to be a high-quality cost estimate… GAO makes 10 recommendations for MDA to strengthen its resource, schedule and test baselines, facilitate baseline reviews, and further improve transparency and accountability. GAO is also making a recommendation to improve MDA’s ability to carry out its test plan. In response, DOD fully concurred with 7 recommendations. It partially concurred with 3…”
March 18/11: US order. A $695 million fixed-price incentive and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification for 48 interceptors, 6 launchers, 4 fire control units, and other ground equipment required to support THAAD batteries 3 & 4.
This finalizes the Sept 15/10 contract. $144.8 million in FY 2010 procurement funds are added to $119.2 million in FY 2010 funds used for the initial allocation (TL: $264 million), then another $430.9 million in FY 2011 funds brings us to the $695 million grand total. A $94.8 million option for additional launchers could bring the total to $789.8 million.
Work will be managed in Sunnyvale, CA, with final assembly performed in Troy, AL through December 2013 (HQ0147-07-C-0196). See also Lockheed Martin.
Feb 20/11: UAE. Reuters quotes Lockheed Martin VP of International Air & Missile Defence Strategic Initiatives Dennis Cavin, who says that “We are very close to finalising documentation necessary to have a successful [THAAD contract] for the UAE. This spring, the U.S. government will make an announcement…”
That announcement is expected to be a government-to-government deal worth up to $7 billion [vid. Sept 9/08 entry], making the UAE THAAD’s 1st export customer. The US government is expected to send a letter of agreement in the next few months, after which the UAE could start negotiations with contractors on production schedules, and support agreements with Lockheed and Raytheon.
Feb 18/11: A sole-source $8.9 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification to Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Woburn, MA. Raytheon will perform superdome obsolescence redesign, including system enhancements, technological improvements, and new products supporting “the X-band radars.”
Work will be performed in Woburn, MA from February 2011 through June 2011, and $2.5 million in FY 2011 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funds will be used to incrementally fund this effort (HQ0006-03-C-0047, HQ0147).
Nov 10/10: TPY-2. A sole-source $25.2 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification to Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Woburn, MA, to refurbish AN/TPY-2 radar #4.
Work will be performed in Woburn, MA through August 2011, funded by FY 2010 – 2011 Research, Development, Test & Evaluation funds (HQ0006-03-C-0047).
Oct 4/10: An $18 million contract modification to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in Sunnyvale, CA, who will begin manufacturing 49 “redesigned mid-body heat shields for incorporation into THAAD interceptors” on mid-body substrate assemblies. Asked for details, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson said that this wasn’t an immediate concern, but:
“The redesign will eliminate microcracking which was identified during ground testing as a potential risk over a long period of time. This contract implements the heat shields on the 49 interceptors now in production. Lockheed Martin remains focused on ensuring THAAD is reliable, affordable and effective.”
Work will be managed by LMSSC in Sunnyvale, CA, with final assembly performed at Lockheed Martin’s Pike County Operations interceptor production facility in Troy, AL. Work is projected through February 2012 (HQ0147-07-C