[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense video] Will THAAD Performance Upgrade Proceed?

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] John Hill, Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, stated on the 10th during a briefing on the U.S. Department of Defense's fiscal year 2021 budget that "If the THAAD launchers and batteries can be separated, it would provide great flexibility on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "The battery can be placed further back, the radar can be moved back, and the launchers can be placed in front or additional launchers can be brought in."

This is interpreted as meaning that the THAAD battery, which consists of launchers, radar, and command and control centers, could have its launchers detached or separate launchers brought into South Korea to be deployed not only at the current base in Seongju, Gyeongbuk but also in areas considered 'blind spots' in the THAAD defense network, such as the Seoul metropolitan area. Furthermore, since this essentially implies additional THAAD deployments, it is an issue that will draw close attention not only from South Korea but also from China. Additionally, it has been reported that the U.S. military is considering using Patriot radars to launch THAAD interceptor missiles. The plan is to connect Patriot radars, which are deployed at various U.S. military bases in South Korea, with THAAD launchers to enhance defense of the Seoul metropolitan area.

The U.S. Forces Korea deployed two THAAD launchers and related equipment at the end of April 2017, just before President Moon Jae-in's election. Amid controversy over reporting omissions, four additional launchers were deployed in September of the same year after President Moon took office. Despite ongoing domestic conflicts over THAAD and China's opposition, the deployment became a fait accompli following North Korea's sixth nuclear test in September 2017, and since then, the system has been maintained in a temporary deployment and operational status.

According to Kim Yeol-su, Director of the Security Strategy Office at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, in his article titled "THAAD Performance Upgrade Plan and Security Implications" published in the institute's March monthly journal, the U.S. plans to change the THAAD launch system from a short-range wired type to a long-range wireless type to integrate missile defense capabilities on the Korean Peninsula. Currently, command is conducted via fiber optic cables, requiring the launchers and fire control centers to be close to each other. The U.S. military aims to overcome this distance limitation by switching to remote wireless control.

Subsequently, THAAD radar will be used for launching Patriot missiles. Currently, the detection range of Patriot radars is limited to 100 km, but THAAD radars have a much wider detection range. The AN/TPY-2 radar has a maximum detection range of 1800 to 2000 km. Utilizing THAAD radar in the Patriot missile system would enable earlier detection of enemy missiles.

Once this phase is completed, the Patriot missile system and the THAAD system can be fully integrated and operated together. Integration of the two missile systems would allow for more efficient defense against incoming missiles during the terminal phase. The U.S. already tested the capability to remotely launch interceptor missiles by deploying radar, mobile launch vehicles, and command centers in different locations near the Marshall Islands in the Pacific in August last year. Additional THAAD remote launch tests are scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year and next year.

Director Kim stated, "If additional THAAD launchers are introduced or deployed forward to northern areas such as Pyeongtaek, there may be opposition from China. However, since this does not involve deploying additional THAAD batteries or new THAAD radars, there is no reason for China to raise objections."