Post to activate 2nd battery of $11B missile system

10/16/2009

EL PASO -- The nation's second Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery is scheduled to activate this morning during a ceremony at Fort Bliss.

The $11 billion missile system, called THAAD, is designed to be part of what the Army calls a "layered" missile defense shield, which also includes the Patriot system. THAAD was created to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles as far away as the outer edge of Earth's atmosphere.

The first battery, which also is located at Fort Bliss, is expected to be ready for deployment late next year after the unit gets its equipment and is trained, and after an Army board certifies that all systems are safe and effective.

THAAD can be deployed to protect troop movements, military command centers, ammunition and vehicle depots or even a city, said Capt. Brendan McShea, commander of the new Alpha Battery, 2nd Regiment, Air Defense Artillery. His unit will receive its equipment in mid-2010, he said.

Because the system is so new, his soldiers will be involved in writing the manual for THAAD as they train, McShea said.

"We will be taking the weapons into the field," he said.

The system faced money cuts in the 1990s when it missed targets during test firings. But after a redesign, THAAD has been consistently on the mark. That success prompted the Army to add two more batteries to the four that had been planned. The remaining batteries will be located at other posts.

>>>http://www.elpasotimes.com/military/ci_13570872