THAAD Program Passes Critical Design Review

The Missile Defense Agency’s Theater High-Altitude Area Defense system has completed a successful design review that was necessary to resume flight testing, Aerospace Daily reported today. The system is designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles as they enter their final descent, but the program was restructured after a set of failed tests a few years ago (see GSN, Sept. 3).

The Dec. 16-17 critical design review, was “very successful,” according to a source at THAAD prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

MDA officials plan to conduct the THAAD interceptor’s first flight test in the fourth quarter of 2004. The first flight test with a moving target is scheduled for the third quarter of 2005, according to Aerospace Daily. The interceptor will track the target in that exercise and could attempt an intercept. The first official intercept test will be held three months later.

The agency is planning to hold a total of 16 flight tests for the THAAD system (Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily, Dec. 19).

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