RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces has graduated a third unit capable of operating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system following weeks of specialized training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
The operation and maintenance crews were trained to use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, which is one of the world’s most advanced missile defense technologies and a key component of the country’s air defenses.
The graduates completed a range of programs, including technical and operational training, combat simulation and advanced field exercises.
These were conducted under the supervision of the manufacturer’s experts and in cooperation with the US military as part of a joint defense agreement, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Arabia’s training program aligns with the Ministry of Defense’s strategy to enhance military capabilities and improve combat readiness in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The Kingdom introduced its first THAAD battery with a ceremony in Jeddah in July.
US-built THAAD systems are capable of intercepting short (up to 1,000 km), medium (1,000-3,000 km) and intermediate (3,000-5,000 km) range missiles inside or outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
According to the US Congress website, a THAAD battery is usually made up of 90 soldiers, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radar units and a communications component.
As part of its Vision 2030 goals to localize defense manufacturing, Saudi Arabia successfully manufactured parts for the THAAD system for the first time earlier this year.
The achievement followed two contracts signed during the 2024 World Defense Show in Riyadh, as part of a broader strategy to localize key THAAD components. They built on previous efforts announced at the 2022 show, including initiatives to produce missile containers and launch platforms.
