Officially operational in South Korea as of May 2, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, is situated on a converted golf course in Seongju and defends the region from airborne threats. Utilizing hit-to-kill technology, THAAD can deploy up to eight missiles at once. THAAD’s deployment to South Korea is heavily criticized by China, Russia and North Korea, all of which, according to CNN, say that its deployment is fueling an arms race. (Lockheed Martin)
The infrared imaging system tail/thrust vector controlled, or IRIS-T, is an air-to-air guided missile manufactured by German company Diehl BGT Defence. The German Air Force officially put the IRIS-T into service in 2005. It replaced the former Sidewinder missiles. The IRIS-T is utilized by Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Austria, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. (Thomas Haentzschel/AP)
This medium- to long-range system, the MBDA Aster Block 1 New Technology missile, was co-developed by France and Italy, which signed a cooperation agreement in 2016 to advance the missile. Among the nations that utilize the missile are Singapore, France, Italy and the U.K. The Block 1 missile can intercept incoming missiles with a range of 600 kilometers. (Aster)
A deadly combination of the Sampson radar and the Aster missile system, the Sea Viper brings the Aster missile to maritime use. It was successfully tested in May off the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond off the coast of Scotland when it destroyed a drone that was travelling at 500 mph. (Royal Navy)
Originally firing PAC-2 missiles, which took down enemy missiles using proximity detonation, the Patriot air defense system now incorporates hit-to-kill technology with the lighter, smaller PAC-3 missile that was developed with Japan. The system is utilized in Turkey, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, the the U.S. and recently, the U.S. began selling the Patriot system to Romania and Poland. (Bulent Kilic/AFP)
The A-135 missile defense system, located in Russia, was incorporated in 1990. Though 27 years old, the system still maintains relevancy and has undergone computerization, making it faster. The A-135 system includes the Don-2N radar station, which detects warheads up to 3,700 km away. According to Sputnik News, the A-135, while still efficient, will soon be replaced by the A-235 Nudol “next generation” missile defense system, which is still being tested. (Ramil Sitdiko/Sputnik News)
Israel’s Arrow-3 system scored its first intercept in March when it took down a Syrian SA-5 missile. The Arrow was co-developed with the U.S. and is manufactured in the states. This month, defense officials and industry developers have begun early work for the development of a more powerful Arrow-4 with Iran and multiple reentry vehicles in mind. (Israeli Aircraft Industries/Getty Images)
The SA-5, a surface-to-air missile, or SAM, recently made the news as Israel intercepted a Syrian SA-5 on March 17. Pictured here in a North Korean military parade in 2012, the long-range SA-5 missile is operated throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East. (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)