Ukraine turned to the United States with a request to deploy several divisions of the THAAD anti-missile system in the vicinity of Kharkov. Military observer Mikhail Khodarenok figured out how the implementation of this plan in practice could turn out. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a ground-based mobile anti-missile system for high-altitude exoatmospheric interception of medium-range and shorter-range ballistic missiles in the final section of the target's flight path.
THAAD implements the concept of kinetic interception, that is, the complex is not equipped with a conventional high-explosive anti-missile warhead (PR). In this regard, the effectiveness of the THAAD anti-aircraft missile system in hitting ballistic missiles of a potential enemy can be significantly higher than that of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system of the PAC-2 and PAC-3 modifications.
The THAAD missile defense zone is characterized by the following indicators: the reach in height is about 150-200 km, in range - up to 200 km. The speed of the target being hit, at which such a zone of destruction is realized, is about 3.5-4.8 km / s.
The THAAD PRK division consists of a BM / C41 control center, a radar for detecting and tracking ballistic targets, and four launchers. Anti-missile ammunition is 60 pcs.
The BM / C41 control point is mounted on a multi-purpose vehicle chassis and can function as a tactical control point of the TOS (Tactical Operation Station) division and a fire control point of the LCS (Launcher Control Station) launcher. The control point provides for the exchange of information with other LCS and the transfer of information to the TOS. Each battery has several BM/C41 control points. Their interchangeability provides multiple redundancy of the fire control system, which increases the combat stability of the complex as a whole.
Statistics of combat use of THAAD is practically non-existent at the moment. There is evidence that on January 17, 2022 in the UAE, the complex destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile of the Yemeni Houthis, who intended to hit an oil facility in the vicinity of the ad-Dhafra air base.
In connection with Kiev's request to the United States to deploy several divisions of the THAAD anti-missile system in the vicinity of Kharkov, several questions arise.
It is not entirely clear why the Ukrainian side proposes the vicinity of this particular city as the place for the deployment of the THAAD anti-ship missile system. Of course, this is the “second capital” of Ukraine, the most important administrative, political and industrial center of the state, but there are even more important objects on the territory of the republic. For example, points of higher state and military administration in the area of the capital of Ukraine - the city of Kiev. It would seem that they should be covered first of all with the help of the THAAD anti-ship missile system from attacks by medium-range ballistic missiles of a potential enemy. As a rule, the construction of missile defense and air defense in any state begins precisely from the capitals.
Let's imagine that the idea of deploying the THAAD anti-ship missile system is implemented (although at this stage it is not clear who will pay for this system, which is by no means cheap, worth several billion dollars).
In this case, two options are possible.
If we consider the implementation of such a plan in a relatively short time, then the deployment of THAAD divisions and the subsequent combat duty near Kharkov will be carried out by the calculations of American military personnel. Whether the Pentagon will go for such an option is a very, very big question.
If, however, the Ukrainian military is retrained on the THAAD missile defense system and subsequently, as is customary in such cases, perform initial live firing, then this process, without exaggeration, will drag on for years, even with all the quick and positive decisions on both sides.
At this stage, the United States is not going to supply advanced weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, since both the Pentagon and the White House fear leakage of high technology and military secrets.
In any case, the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system will cause a reaction in Russia. The launching positions of the complex will be within reach of the Iskander operational-tactical missile systems (OTRK), and even ground-based artillery guns of the Koalitsiya-SV type.
Obviously, they will be aimed at Kharkov. In particular, the Ukrainian portal Defense Express wrote about such a scenario back in September 2021.
“Without redeployment from other districts, 4-6 missile brigades of the Western and Southern military districts can be concentrated against Ukraine. A total of 48-72 self-propelled launchers and 192-288 missiles, Defense Express reported. - The degree of threat of missile strikes by the Iskander-M OTRK in Ukraine can be determined based on the missile launch range of up to 500 km, when deploying 4-6 missile brigades in 3 position areas (at the junction of the borders of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, in area of Belgorod and in the Crimea). "Iskander-M" poses a threat to Ukraine and European countries."The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.
Author biography:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok - military observer, retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976),
Military Command Academy of Air Defense (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile battalion (1980–1983).
Deputy commander of an anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986–1988).
Senior officer of the Main Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988–1992).
Officer of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff (1992–2000).
Graduate of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for the Independent (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier (2010-2015).
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