In this first month of the new year, the world has witnessed a number of combat engagements by missile defense systems with both Counter UAS systems and, on a grander scale, with the historic first combat intercepts by the THAAD system. The first THAAD engagement was of a Houthi medium range ballistic missile fired into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) near the Al Dhafra Air Base, on January 17th. Early this morning the THAAD’s second and third combat intercepts were successfully completed against two ballistic missiles fired by Houthi forces towards Abu Dhabi. The operational use of the UAE’s THAAD battery in combat demonstrates the abilities present in the numerous other THAAD operating batteries forward stationed in Guam, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia; and in the batteries positioned in the United States that are on alert to be air lifted to forward operating installations across the globe. It is a demonstration of the THAAD system’s reliability, and a manifestation of the credibility of the U.S. to defend population centers, major installations, and other critical locations. It is a statement of our commitment to invest in, and modernize our forces to prepare for and defeat adversary ballistic missiles. The demand for this system that is defending the “upper tier” of South Korea, Guam, the UAE, and significant portions of Saudi Arabia will grow, and it must continue to modernize to stay ahead of the proliferating ballistic missile threats. This includes the Army’s planned acquisition of an 8th and 9th THAAD battery acquired by the Missile Defense Agency. Possessing a sufficient number of THAAD systems is a must to gain and maintain the competitive edge over state and non-state actors.
Beyond the active escalation launching of Ballistic Missiles and Drones by nefarious actors supported by Iran in the Middle East, there is the buildup of Russian Missile and Drone forces in the preparation for a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. This presents a massive challenge to Ukraine that requires integrated missile and drone defense with both sensors and effectors. NATO will also want the key NATO facilities to be protected. Certainly, NATO’s bases with significant power projection forces, such as Ramstein Airbase in Germany, Aviano Airbase in Italy, as well as Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in Romania, will require the layers of integrated missile defense systems to defend its forces, critical command nodes and logistical assets to keep the Russian Forces deterred and to be a tool to deescalate should an accident or miscalculation take place.
On the other side of the World in the Pacific, North Korea is flexing, testing and demonstrating its missile capabilities with limited U.S. and international responses. After almost a year of pausing from their trademark provocations, North Korea has now launched four ballistic missiles, some with allegedly Hypersonic aspects in less than a month, including their initial test on Wednesday, January 5 followed by Tuesday January 11th and the most recent test on Monday, January 17.
Pyongyang has claimed that these tests demonstrate the sophistication of its hypersonic glide program. Backed by Russia and China, North Korea has been receiving technological and supply chain assistance during the worldwide pandemic, and reportedly they have attempted to develop boosters and hypersonic glide technology that is unlikely to have been produced by North Korean efforts alone.
At a strategic level, our adversaries sense stress, or even weakness, in our global deterrence architecture. They are challenging the U.S. and its system of Allied and Partners more deliberately, systematically, and comprehensively. The concurrent crises of China-Taiwan, Russia-Ukraine, North Korea-South-Korea, and Iran-Saudi Arabia/UAE will continue to stretch and threaten our force posture and broader international efforts. Our Missile Defense systems-architecture must be modernized and procured aggressively to guarantee peace that will endure through strength.
