[News] Explainer: Why Iran's Kheibar Shekan-2 can overpower THAAD anti-missile system

[Anti-Imperialist News]

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Explainer: Why Iran's Kheibar Shekan-2 can overpower THAAD anti-missile
systemOctober 14, 2024
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*By Press TV Website Staff*

*Amid rising tensions in the region, the United States is reportedly
deploying one of its most advanced ballistic missile defense systems, the
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), to the occupied Palestinian
territories.*

The potential deployment of THAAD is intended to strengthen the Israeli
regime's missile defense capabilities in preparation for anticipated
large-scale Iranian ballistic missile strikes, should Israel respond to
Operation True Promise II.

Iranian officials have in unequivocal terms warned that any further
military provocation from the Israeli regime and its backers would result
in a "crushing" response.

Many military analysts believe that the deployment of THAAD to the
Israeli-occupied territories suggests that Israel’s much-hyped air defense
systems have been ineffective against advanced Iranian missiles as
witnessed recently.

THAAD offers a higher-end ballistic missile defense solution compared to
the Israeli regime's existing systems, such as Arrow-3, Arrow-2, and
David’s Sling, though it comes with a significantly higher cost, according
to military experts and strategists.

Equally crucial to the THAAD system is its X-Band AN/TPY-2 radar, an
advanced ballistic missile defense sensor already used by the Israeli
military.

Earlier this week, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB released footage showing
the transportable Raytheon X-band radar, part of the THAAD system, being
knocked out by Iranian forces moments before a barrage of missiles struck
Israeli military sites during Operation True Promise II.

The addition of more of these early warning radars is intended to create
redundancy in case some are destroyed by Iranian precision-strike ballistic
missiles.

This redundancy is deemed vital, especially given the advanced Iranian
missiles that contributed to the large-scale failure of Israel's missile
defense system on October 1.

Iran's Kheibar Shekan-1 and Kheibar Shekan-2 aero-ballistic missiles easily
penetrated Israel's much-touted air defenses, particularly the Arrow-3 and
David’s Sling systems.

The Kheibar Shekan-1 evaded the Arrow-3 system, which operates only outside
the atmosphere, by flying below its engagement envelope. By the time it
came within range of the Arrow-2 system, it was already flying too low to
be effectively intercepted.

The missile's evasive maneuvers also allowed it to easily defeat David’s
Sling system.

However, THAAD offers a notable advantage, allowing engagements at lower
altitudes than either Arrow-3 or Arrow-2, thanks to its advanced kill
vehicle, which is designed to operate within the lower atmosphere.

This capability makes the THAAD system potentially more effective against
the Kheibar Shekan-1, according to some military experts.

However, the equation changes with the Kheibar Shekan-2, which has a longer
range of 1,800 kilometers compared to the 1,450-kilometer range of the
Kheibar Shekan-1.

The Kheibar Shekan-2’s more aerodynamic glide vehicle allows it to "trade"
its extended range for low-altitude gliding, keeping it below the THAAD
system’s engagement envelope, particularly at altitudes below 35 kilometers.

This enables the missile to bypass THAAD entirely and effectively and reach
its target.

While this maneuver places significant heat stress on the Kheibar
Shekan-2’s glide vehicle, it is an effective method to evade THAAD and
strike its intended targets, possibly including THAAD batteries themselves.

Given that American personnel operate these batteries, Iran might opt not
to target them directly, instead focusing on defeating them by staying
outside their engagement range.

Alternatively, Iran could choose to target the forces operating the
batteries, as this would indicate direct American involvement in Israeli
aggression against the Islamic Republic, believe military analysts.

While the Kheibar Shekan-2 is well-placed to evade THAAD, the Kheibar
Shekan-1 also has a credible chance of defeating the system by targeting
sites near the edge of THAAD's engagement envelope, which is significantly
reduced when dealing with aero-ballistic missiles within the atmosphere.

Despite THAAD’s advanced technology, its high cost limits the number of
available interceptors, especially compared to the sheer volume and size of
Iran's ballistic missile arsenal.

As a result, THAAD’s contribution to the Israeli regime's defense may be
largely symbolic, offering additional radar support and protecting
high-priority sites, like Nevatim Airbase, from less advanced Iranian
missile threats.

However, its effectiveness diminishes sharply when facing more
sophisticated threats like the Kheibar Shekan-2.
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