THADD system redeploys from Romania

U.S. Army Europe's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system – brought to Romania in April 2019 - redeployed to home stations in Germany and the United States after providing support to NATO’s ballistic missile defense mission, according to army.mil and defense-blog.

THAAD system brought to Romania is part of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss (Texas).

In April, the task force deployed to Naval Support Facility Deveselu, Romania, where they integrated into the existing NATO BMD architecture during a period of routine maintenance and upgrade of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System located there.

"The successful deployment of THAAD to Romania demonstrates our commitment to support our Allies and the NATO Ballistic Missile Defense mission", said Brig. Gen. Gregory Brady, commander of 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. "Missile defense is a vital element to the collective defense of Europe and is one of the U.S. military's top priorities. This deployment shows that we stand ready to surge combat credible air and missile defense forces when needed".

"To have an opportunity to be a part of something historic is one of the benefits of being in the military," said Master Sgt. James Redd, 174th ADA senior enlisted leader. "Bringing THAAD to Romania for the first time and emplacing its capabilities in the actual air defense architecture is pretty unique. It's an honor to be a part of this accomplishment", Master Sgt. James Redd added for army.mil.

"The works on the Aegis Ashore elements located in Deveselu are part of the planned upgrade of the US Aegis systems. This updating process will not in any way introduce elements of an offensive nature to the system and will not change its strictly defensive character", Romanian Minister of Defense had informed at the beginning of April.

Source:RRA,army.mil, defense-blog