THAAD: New battery expands post's missionEl Paso Times Staff
Article Launched: 06/02/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
Expansion at Fort Bliss took another step Wednesday with Alpha Battery of the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. The unit is the first built around THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system.
THAAD is designed to intercept incoming targets, presumably enemy missiles, at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. THAAD uses "hit to kill" technology, in which the interceptor collides with the target at high speed and destroys it through the energy of the impact.
THAAD is part of what's called a "layered" missile defense shield, which includes the Patriot missile system. Patriot is designed to take out targets at lower altitudes than THAAD.
THAAD continues the presence of air defense artillery at Fort Bliss. Ultimately, one ADA brigade will remain at Fort Bliss when the ADA school moves to Fort Sill, Okla. It's tough, losing the Air Defense Artillery School, because it's become such an integral part of both Fort Bliss and El Paso.
The THAAD program also continues and reinforces the vital role that Fort Bliss plays in the national military scheme. It's hard to conceive of a better place for THAAD, in the vast open spaces, both land and air, of the Southwest.
THAAD's presence at Fort Bliss will eventually be two batteries.
We welcome THAAD as part of the development and expansion of Fort Bliss, which is such an integral part of El Paso's society and economy.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_9449219
