The US strengthens missile defense in Guam The US Armed Forces established a new 3rd Battalion of the 43rd Air Defense Regiment on the island of Guam, armed with THAAD systems. The unit became part of the 38th Air Defense Division, 94th Air and Missile Defense Command, and became the permanent backbone of the island's missile defense system.

The US strengthens missile defense in Guam The US Armed Forces established a new 3rd Battalion of the 43rd Air Defense Regiment on the island of Guam, armed with THAAD systems. The unit became part of the 38th Air Defense Division, 94th Air and Missile Defense Command, and became the permanent backbone of the island's missile defense system.

The new battalion replaces Task Force Talon, which has provided missile defense to Guam since 2013. THAAD is designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at the end of their trajectory and is capable of intercepting targets at a range of up to 200 km and at an altitude of up to 150 km. The battery includes an AN/TPY-2 radar and mobile launchers, each with eight interceptor missiles.