Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is an American anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (descent or reentry) by intercepting with a hit-to-kill approach.
THAAD was developed after the experience of Iraq's Scud missile attacks during the Gulf War in 1991.
The THAAD interceptor carries no warhead, but relies on its kinetic energy of impact to destroy the incoming missile.
UPSC / PCM - 2026 / NEW REGULAR BATCH STARTS ON SEP-5, 2025 
