[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] THAAD Deployment Speed Battle... Will Additional Deployment Gain Momentum?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The normalization of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system operated by the US Forces Korea in Seongju, Gyeongbuk Province, is expected to accelerate. If the THAAD deployment quickly returns to a normal trajectory, additional deployments are also likely to be discussed cautiously.

The Seongju THAAD base has remained in a temporary operational deployment status in the field since its deployment in 2017. Currently, the inflow of goods and materials into the THAAD base is not easy due to protests by THAAD opposition groups and some residents blocking the base entrance. The normalization efforts include environmental impact assessments, guaranteeing permanent ground access, and land provision.

As the normalization of deployment has been delayed, Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop announced on the 23rd that he would quickly push for the "normalization" of the THAAD base.

Minister Lee said in a meeting with reporters, "The normalization of the THAAD base was something that should have been done naturally, but since it has not been done well until now, we will do it within a faster timeframe," adding, "We are preparing the schedule and other details." He continued, "It’s not that the normalization plan was not done because it was difficult," and added, "There is not much difficulty."

If the Gyeongju THAAD base is normalized, additional deployments are expected to be discussed. Earlier, President-elect Yoon announced on January 31 that, in preparation for North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, the South Korean military would independently deploy an additional THAAD battery for the defense of the Seoul metropolitan area, investing 1.5 trillion won.

THAAD can intercept missiles flying at altitudes of 40 to 150 km. The atmosphere extends up to an altitude of 100 km. Currently, our military can intercept enemy missiles at altitudes around 20 to 40 km with the Patriot PAC-3 and Cheongung-II (M-SAM). It is considered efficient to intercept missiles launched at high angles by North Korea using THAAD.

However, due to China’s opposition, the option of fully integrating the THAAD system at the Seongju base with the new Patriot (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor missiles is also under consideration.

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming warned the South Korean government at the Korea-China Expert Dialogue held at the Millennium Hilton in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 7th of last month, saying, "The two characters 'THAAD' have become a taboo in China-Korea relations, and the two countries should never repeat that mistake."

Due to China’s opposition, if THAAD is operated in an integrated manner with PAC-3, THAAD radar can be used for launching Patriot missiles. Currently, the detection range of the Patriot radar is limited to 100 km, but the THAAD radar has a wider detection range. The AN/TPY-2 radar has a maximum detection range of 1800 to 2000 km. If the Patriot missile system utilizes the THAAD radar, it will be able to detect enemy missiles earlier.

In a THAAD battery composed of launchers, radar, and command and control centers, the launchers can be separated or additional launchers can be brought into the country to be deployed not only at the current Seongju base in Gyeongbuk but also in the Seoul metropolitan area, which is considered a "blind spot" in the THAAD defense network. Connecting Patriot radars deployed at various US military bases in Korea with THAAD launchers would enable defense of the Seoul metropolitan area.

The United States already tested the capability to remotely launch interceptor missiles by deploying radar, mobile launch vehicles, and command control centers in different locations near the Marshall Islands in the Pacific in August last year. It is also reported that the THAAD remote launch test was successful this year.