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→Design and function
[[File:THAAD diagram.jpg|thumbnail|left|The design of a THAAD rocket|500px]]
[[File:THAAD diagram.jpg|thumbnail|left|The design of a THAAD rocket|500px]]
The THAAD rocket stands at just over 20 feet long (242.9 inches). It does not use explosives—it destroys missiles using kinetic energy (by impact). It essentially contains only a rocket booster and guidance package. However, THAAD is currently the most advanced missile defense system known in the world. So far, it boasts a 100% success rate.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/thaad-missile-defense-2016</ref> Largely due to their size, the rockets are portable, and often deployed on trucks. They can also be carried by other vehicles, including ships.
The THAAD rocket stands at just over 20 feet long (242.9 inches). It does not use explosives—it destroys missiles using kinetic energy (by impact). It essentially contains only a rocket booster and guidance package. However, THAAD is currently the most advanced missile defense system known in the world. So far, it boasts a 100% success rate.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/thaad-missile-defense-2016</ref> Largely due to their size, the rockets are portable, and often deployed on trucks. They can also be carried by other vehicles, including ships.
Military analyst [[Brian Berletic]] reports THAAD production is low. From 2008 to 2024, [[Lockheed Martin]] produced 800 missiles, approximately 50 a year. In October 2024, ''The Times of Israel'' reported the THAAD system had been deployed to [[Israel]]. Berletic commented that it is likely that not enough launchers exist to launch the quantity of missiles required to defend against the type of missile barrage [[Iran]] launched in early October 2024 which easily overwhelmed Israel's existing [[anti-ballistic missile system]]s. Even if they did, the 180 missiles Iran reportedly launched, requiring up to 2 interceptors each, would have exhausted nearly half of all THAAD missiles ever produced.
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