THAAD is designed to defend U.S. troops, allied forces, population centers and critical infrastructure against short- to medium-range ballistic missiles. THAAD comprises a command and control/battle management system, missiles, launchers and radar.

The THAAD missile uses hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, and is the only weapon system that engages threat ballistic missiles at both endo- and exo-atmospheric altitudes. A key element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System, THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program, with the program office located in Huntsville, AL.

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions and Rep. Terry Everett were on hand for a ceremony marking the start of missile production. Sen. Sessions said, "It is important to appreciate the need for the THAAD system. We need a capability to defend our troops, and this missile will be a critical part of that effort."

Rep. Everett said, "Two years ago, I was here to break ground on this facility. The THAAD system is of enormous importance to this nation. The lives of Americans are depending on the work done here in Pike County, Alabama."

"After four years of rigorous design, development and testing, the THAAD team is eager to begin flight testing the missiles that will be produced in this plant," said Tom McGrath, THAAD vice president and program manager for Lockheed Martin. "We are pleased to be manufacturing the THAAD missile in this state-of-the-art facility in Troy, just two years after ground-breaking."

Flight-testing of THAAD begins in late 2004 and continues through early 2009, with low-rate production to support an initial operating capability expected to begin in 2007.

In August 2002, Lockheed Martin began construction of the 46,000-square- foot, $12 million facility specifically for THAAD missile integration, assembly and test operations.

The first THAAD missile manufactured in Troy will be a "pathfinder" missile, used to demonstrate and validate test processes and procedures. Immediately following the pathfinder missile, the first of 16 developmental flight test missiles will be manufactured.

Pike County Operations also will build the new Joint Common Missile (JCM), slated to ultimately replace the Hellfire II, Longbow and Maverick missiles, and will also produce the Non Line-of-Sight - Launch System (NLOS-LS) Loitering Attack Missile (LAM). In addition, the facility builds the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and is Lockheed Martin's Center of Excellence for Strike Weapons.

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