US confirms. Powerful missile systems will be sent to the Middle East

The United States will deploy some of the most powerful missile defense systems they have in their arsenal in the Middle East. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Saturday, October 21 that a THAAD anti-ballistic missile system and more Patriot system batteries will be directed to the region.

The decision of the United States is related to the rising tensions in the Middle East. As emphasized by The War Zone, a military-related service, Washington is alarmed by the possibility of a larger-scale conflict in the region. Israel is still battling representatives of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, it is deflecting the attacks of Hezbollah militants, and in recent days, the American missile destroyer USS Carney thwarted a missile attack by Houthi militias on Israeli targets. The Americans in the Red Sea shot down maneuvering missiles and drones, which the Houthis had launched from Yemeni territory. The War Zone also mentions the "numerous drone and missile attacks on bases with American personnel in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria". There are also concerns about Iran's role in the event of escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Americans have already decided to send the USS Dwight Eisenhower Strike Group and the USS Gerald Ford Strike Group to the Mediterranean Sea. It is clear from the statements of the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, that the deployed forces will be supported by the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, along with additional Patriot system batteries. Austin also announced the assignment of extra soldiers who will remain on standby for swift action if necessary. The War Zone points out that "the decision to send these resources, especially the THAAD batteries, is certainly an ominous sign, but it is still part of the ongoing larger emergency operation".

THAAD is a portable system for intercepting short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final phase of flight. It is capable of responding to both projectiles flying outside the atmosphere and those already in it. The CSIS Missile Defense Project points out that THAAD forms the middle level of the American Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), covering a larger area than the Patriot system, which also intercepts missiles in the final phase of flight. This explains why the Americans decided to send both THAAD and Patriot systems to the Middle East. Their combination provides much wider possibilities for responding to potential ballistic threats in the region.

The THAAD battery consists of four main elements: a launcher, intercepting missile, radar, and fire control unit. The THAAD can strike targets within a distance of approximately 124 miles and at altitudes up to 93 miles. This solution uses hit-to-kill technology, meaning that threats are destroyed by kinetic energy. This is how PAC-3 missiles work, which are dedicated to the Patriot system. In this case, it proves effective in eliminating tactical ballistic missiles and maneuvering missiles. A Patriot equipped with PAC-3 missiles can intercept Iskander maneuvering ballistic missiles from a distance of approximately 22 miles.

The THAAD system also has a powerful radar, allowing it to search, track, and identify objects within a range of about 621 miles, which simultaneously provides data for intercepting missiles. The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) emphasizes that "THAAD is capable of receiving signals from Aegis, satellites, and other external sensors to expand its range and can cooperate with the Patriot/PAC-3 system". They also add that the larger radar range of THAAD is intended to counteract mass raids and can be used as part of a layered defense system".