How one of the world's most advanced missile-defense systems works in one graphic

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the heels of North Korea's latest, and largest, nuclear test, here's a look at Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

In July, Washington agreed to equip Seoul with a THAAD battery to further defend the region amid the North's missile tests.

A THAAD battery is made up of a four-part antimissile system. The graphic below shows the components needed for each enemy-target interception and how the unique missile-defense system works.

thaad 1200x
thaad 1200x

Reuters

Here's a brief breakdown of the process:

1. Radar detects threat

thaad amanda raytheon
thaad amanda raytheon

Reuters

THAAD's first line of defense is its radar system.

"We have one of the most powerful radars in the world," Kyle Terza, of Space and Missile Defense Command and a former THAAD battery commander, told Business Insider in a previous interview.

Raytheon's AN/TPY-2 radar is used to detect, track, and discriminate ballistic missiles in the terminal (or descending) phase of flight.

The mobile radar is about the size of a bus and is powerful enough to scan areas the size of entire countries, according to Raytheon.

2. Weapon is assigned and target engaged

thaad launcher
thaad launcher

Reuters

Each launcher unit carries up to eight missiles and can send multiple kill vehicles at once, depending on the severity of the threat.

Once an enemy threat has been identified, THAAD's Fire Control and Communications support team kicks in. If there is a decision to engage the incoming missile, the launcher fires an interceptor to hunt for its target.

3. After launch, a booster splits from the kill vehicle and tracks the target before colliding with it

While in flight, the interceptor will track its target and obliterate it in the sky.

4. Target is destroyed using kinetic energy

Impressively, the THAAD interceptor does not carry a warhead. Instead, the interceptor missile uses pure kinetic energy to deliver "hit to kill" strikes to incoming ballistic threats inside or outside the atmosphere.

NOW WATCH: Meet THAAD: America’s answer to North Korean threats

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