“The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula is a contentious issue between China and South Korea, with China concerned that THAAD is aimed at its ICBM installations. South Korea and the United States argue that THAAD is purely defensive, aimed against the threat of North Korean missiles. Since it is in terminal mode, with a range of 1,000km, the THAAD radar, known as AN/TPY-2 is unable to detect Chinese ICBMs. A Pentagon report has revealed, however, that rapid conversion to forward-based mode is possible, within eight hours, extending the range to 3,000km with a 120-degree field of view…
“A former commander of USFK, General Vincent Brooks, proposed several years ago that [Joint Emergent Operational Need] would mean upgrading THAAD to properly deter against North Korean missile threats. The South Korean government, however, continues to deny this at present, speaking only of ‘improving’ and ‘enhancing’ THAAD procedures…”
Read the full article here: