The Missile Defense Agency has redeployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system equipment from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii via four USAF C-17 airlifters. Soldiers at Ft. Bliss, Tex., moved the equipment by road from White Sands to Biggs Army Airfield at Ft. Bliss and prepared it for loading onto the airlifters, performing much as if they were making a real tactical move of the THAAD system. Just to be safe, they first practiced on C-17 mockups, according to an MDA release.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
