Breaking News: Saudi Arabia strengthens response to missile threats with first US-made THAAD air defense unit

The THAADor Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, is a mobile anti-ballistic missile system developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. It is designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill technology. The system does not carry a warhead but relies on kinetic impact. Each THAAD battery typically includes at least six launchers, eight missiles per launcher, two mobile tactical operations centers, and one AN/TPY-2 radar developed by Raytheon. The system’s maximum range is estimated at 200 kilometers, with an interception altitude of up to 150 kilometers. It uses an indium-antimonide imaging infrared seeker for guidance and a single-stage solid-fueled booster by Aerojet Rocketdyne. The system’s ability to operate both inside and outside the atmosphere provides a higher-altitude defense layer than Patriot PAC-3, making it suitable for intercepting missiles that may carry weapons of mass destruction. THAAD has previously been deployed operationally in the UAE, South Korea, Israel, and Guam and is part of the layered defense strategy implemented by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. The THAAD system was procured through a Foreign Military Sale agreement approved by the U.S. Department of State on October 6, 2017. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) disclosed the sale’s total value at $15 billion, covering seven fire units, each including a Raytheon AN/TPY-2 radar, six launchers, two mobile tactical stations per unit, and a total of 360 interceptor missiles, with additional equipment, spares, and support services. The DSCA stated that the sale supported U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives and was intended to counter Iran’s growing ballistic missile threat. The system complements the lower-altitude capabilities of the Patriot PAC-3 systems already operated by Saudi Arabia, providing an additional exo-atmospheric interception layer. No offset agreements were identified at the time of the sale. The Pentagon noted that the transaction would not alter the regional military balance. The THAAD activation follows the conclusion of a 12-day conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, during which Iranian missiles struck Qatar on the final night. Saudi Arabia’s decision to finalize operational deployment shortly after the conflict indicates a direct response to evolving threat scenarios in the Gulf. Officials indicated the system will serve to protect critical infrastructure and strategic national facilities. THAAD’s activation makes Saudi Arabia the second Gulf country, after the United Arab Emirates, to operate the system. The UAE procured two batteries in 2011, which reached operational status in 2016. Qatar is expected to become the third regional operator, having secured agreements for THAAD systems through a $42 billion U.S. military hardware package signed in May 2025. U.S. THAAD batteries have also been deployed in Israel, including during the October 2024 and April 2025 missile strikes attributed to Iran. Reports indicate the U.S. used THAAD during that conflict and has maintained its presence since. Saudi Arabia’s THAAD project includes a local industrial component aligned with its Vision 2030 strategy, in which the country aims to deploy a total of seven THAAD batteries by 2028. On May 11, 2025, Lockheed Martin, the Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), and Arabian International Company for Steel Structures (AIC Steel) confirmed the successful domestic production of the first Missile Round Pallet–Transportable (MRP-T), a logistical component used to transport THAAD interceptor missiles. This announcement followed a review held at AIC Steel’s facility in Jeddah, attended by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control President Tim Cahill, GAMI Assistant Deputy Nawaf Albawardi, and AIC Steel President Wasim Attieh. The MRP-T is designed for robust transportability, with a payload of approximately 12,600 kilograms and a volume of 1,337 cubic feet. It can be mounted on flatbed or lowboy trailers and is engineered for secure handling and rapid redeployment of interceptor missiles, maintaining launcher readiness across various operational environments. The production of the MRP-T marks the first confirmed instance of Saudi Arabia manufacturing a THAAD component domestically. Lockheed Martin has been engaged in providing technical support and training to AIC Steel under a localization framework signed in 2022, which also includes plans for domestic production of THAAD launchers and storage canisters. The localization of the MRP-T is intended to reduce dependency on foreign imports, improve logistical self-sufficiency, and enhance supply chain security for critical defense systems. According to stakeholders, the program also supports the industrial capacity goals outlined in Vision 2030, which targets the local production of 50 percent of Saudi defense needs. The MRP-T has already been presented in international defense exhibitions, including during the World Defense Show 2024, as a case study for Saudi involvement in advanced missile defense logistics.

In parallel with the system’s operational integration and localization, Saudi Arabia continues to expand its broader defense procurement portfolio from the United States. In May 2025, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Saudi Arabia in a deal valued at $3.5 billion. In March, Washington cleared the sale of up to 2,000 APKWS II laser-guided munitions for $100 million. These acquisitions are part of a continuing pattern of high-value arms purchases by Riyadh, many of which date back to the $110 billion defense agreement signed during the first term of President Donald Trump. The Kingdom has historically pursued a dual-track strategy, combining large-scale foreign arms imports with incremental steps toward domestic production through partnerships and joint ventures. The localization of THAAD components is now part of a broader trend involving precision munitions, armored vehicles, and missile systems.