- The UAE marked ten years since receiving its first THAAD battery, becoming the first foreign military sale customer and international operator of the missile defense system.
- Lockheed Martin said THAAD became a core element of the UAE’s layered air and missile defense alongside Patriot systems.
Lockheed Martin and the United Arab Emirates are marking ten years since the delivery of the first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the UAE.
According to Lockheed Martin, the UAE represented a series of firsts for the THAAD program. The country became the Missile Defense Agency’s first foreign military sale customer for THAAD, the first international recipient of THAAD hardware delivered by Lockheed Martin, and the site of the system’s first operational engagements.
Lockheed Martin delivered the first THAAD battery to the UAE in October 2015. The company said the delivery positioned THAAD as a core element of the country’s missile defense architecture. At the time, the UAE was already operating Patriot PAC-3 systems, and the addition of THAAD created a layered air and missile defense structure designed to counter a range of ballistic missile threats.
The partnership that led to the deployment dates back several years earlier. Lockheed Martin says the UAE’s interest in THAAD began in 2007, when the UAE Ministry of Defense initiated discussions with the Missile Defense Agency focused on addressing the growing ballistic missile threat from regional adversaries. The discussions centered on the need for a system capable of intercepting threats both inside and outside the atmosphere, before missiles could reach populated areas or critical infrastructure.
These talks eventually led the UAE to become the first international partner to acquire THAAD through a foreign military sale. In a statement, Dawn Golightly, vice president for Upper Tier Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin, said the decision reflected shared goals.
“The decision to field THAAD in the UAE was driven by a mutual desire to realize regional stability through strong deterrence, protect citizens, and defend critical infrastructure,” Golightly said. “When the UAE signed on as our first FMS customer, it opened a new chapter in our long-standing partnership.”
The initial THAAD battery delivered to Abu Dhabi included mobile launchers, interceptors, an AN/TPY-2 radar, and a fire control system. After delivery, UAE personnel worked alongside Lockheed Martin, the Missile Defense Agency, and Raytheon to conduct system testing and validation. These activities were aimed at confirming system performance and preparing the UAE Air Force and Air Defense to operate the system independently.
THAAD’s role moved from deterrence to operational use in January 2022, when the system intercepted multiple hostile medium-range ballistic missiles targeting the UAE. Lockheed Martin said these were the first operational engagements in THAAD’s history and demonstrated the system’s ability to counter real-world threats.
The company said the intercepts also highlighted the importance of training and operational cooperation between the U.S. government, industry partners, and the UAE Air Force and Air Defense. According to Lockheed Martin, this cooperative model has since informed how THAAD is deployed and operated in other locations.
THAAD’s integration with the UAE’s broader command-and-control network has been another focus of the program. Lockheed Martin said the system’s interoperability with existing assets showed its ability to operate within different missile defense architectures, supporting a layered approach that includes sensors, interceptors, and command systems.
Beyond its technical role, THAAD has become part of the UAE’s broader defense posture. Lockheed Martin describes the system as a central element of a layered defense designed to deter attacks and protect key assets. As the system reaches its ten-year milestone in the UAE, the company says it is looking ahead to further capability enhancements and continued cooperation with its Emirati partner.