The interception of one of the ballistic missiles fired from Yemen by the American THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) defense system has aroused great interest in the region.
This is mainly because it is the first operational interception of the system since it was deployed in Israel, but also because the interception was not carried out by Israeli systems, which raises many questions.
The THAAD system, similar to Israel's multi-layered defense systems, is designed to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles (about 200 km) by directly hitting the target, outside or inside the atmosphere. The main advantage of the system lies in its advanced and powerful radar, developed by Raytheon.
This is a unique radar, integrated with advanced command and control systems, operating at high frequency. This frequency allows detection and tracking of ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 2,000 km or more, which allows for early detection, precise flight path construction, and effective interception in the early stages of the attacking missile.