By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The U.S. Army will deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense Remote Launch package to Rota and Tinian this week to exercise the military’s emerging capabilities amid growing tension in the region.
The package, which will be deployed from Guam, consists of one THAAD launcher along with a Patriot launcher and associated personnel and equipment, according to a joint announcement from the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Joint Region Marianas.
The system will be deployed to the military-leased area in the CNMI from July 13 to 18, military officials said.
C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 15th Wing based out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawai'i will move the equipment from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam to Rota and Tinian.
Officials said the equipment does not have any munitions on board and will be on the two islands for the duration of the exercise.
"This is not a permanent relocation of equipment," the Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs Office said.
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This operation will allow the 94th AAMDC to gather valuable data and inform future deployments of Remote Launch packages throughout the theater.
THAAD/Patriot Remote Launch is a recently developed capability that allows remote launchers to operate while geographically separated from its Tactical Fire Control Center and radar array.
This expands the 94th AAMDC area of defense and allows commanders greater flexibility in deploying the system.
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