To exercise emerging capabilities, the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery assigned to the defense of Guam will deploy a THAAD Remote Launch package to Rota International Airport in the CNMI early March, the Joint Region Marianas announced today.
The package will consist of one THAAD launcher and associated personnel and equipment C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 15th Wing based out of Joint Base PearlHarbor-Hickam in Hawai'i will move the equipment from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to Rota International Airport.
Military officials said the operation will allow the 94th Army Air and Missile DefenseCommand to gather valuable data and inform future deployments of THAAD Remote Launch packages throughout the theater.
THAAD remote launch is a recently developed capability that allows a THAAD launcher to operate while geographically separated from its Tactical Fire Control Center and radar array.
This can expand the amount of area a THAAD battery can defend and allows commanders greater flexibility in deploying the system.
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Brig. Gen. Mark Holler, Commanding General of 94th AAMDC said, "There is no more important mission than the defense of the homeland – and exercising THAAD'sremote launch capability allows us to enhance the effectiveness of a combat-tested, upper-tier missile defense system that is vital to the Army's ability to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific."
Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, Senior Military Official for CNMI and Joint Region Marianas Commander said, "Missile defense is the number one priority for Indo-Pacific command in this region and testing THAAD’s remote launch ability bolsters our defense of CNMI, fortifying our layered defense in the region."
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