THAAD Deployment

By Christopher J. Castelli / April 3, 2013 at 6:35 PM

The Defense Department will deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to Guam in the coming weeks "as a precautionary move to strengthen our regional defense posture against the North Korean regional ballistic missile threat," DOD said in a statement this afternoon.

"The THAAD system is a land-based missile defense system that includes a truck-mounted launcher, a complement of interceptor missiles, an AN/TPY-2 tracking radar, and an integrated fire control system," the statement notes. "This deployment will strengthen defense capabilities for American citizens in the U.S. Territory of Guam and U.S. forces stationed there."

The United States "continues to urge the North Korean leadership to cease provocative threats and choose the path of peace by complying with its international obligations," DOD writes. The United States "remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and stands ready to defend U.S. territory, our allies, and our national interests," according to the statement.

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