Saudi Arabia’s military just flipped the switch. On July 2, 2025, the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces activated their first THAAD missile battery. The system is now live. Training is done. Testing is complete. The launch ceremony took place in Jeddah. This battery is part of a $15 billion defense package signed during Trump’s first term. That deal includes seven THAAD units, 44 launchers, 360 interceptors, 16 command centers, and seven AN/TPY-2 radars. The radar alone tracks threats from over 2,000 kilometers. The interceptors hit targets at altitudes up to 150 kilometers. That’s not theory. That’s capability.
Saudi officers trained at Fort Bliss, Texas. They completed radar ops, diagnostics, and engagement protocols. The first batch graduated in late 2024. The second wave wrapped up in early 2025. Those skills are now being transferred to domestic training centers in Riyadh and Dhahran. The Kingdom isn’t just importing hardware. It’s building a pipeline of THAAD specialists. That’s a shift.
Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces officially inducted their first THAAD missile defense battery after completing training and testing.
The $15 billion deal, signed during Donald Trump’s first term, includes 7 THAAD batteries with 44 launchers, 360 interceptors, 16 command units,… pic.twitter.com/DezT4bmdHC
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 2, 2025
Lockheed Martin and AIC Steel confirmed the first domestically manufactured THAAD components in May. The Missile Round Pallet–Transportable (MRP-T) was built in Jeddah. It hauls 12,600 kilograms of interceptors. That’s part of Vision 2030. The goal is to localize 50% of defense procurement. The THAAD deal includes co-production and tech transfer. That’s not just a sale. It’s a strategic alliance.
The system is built for exo-atmospheric interception. It complements the Patriot PAC-3 units already deployed across the Kingdom. THAAD handles the upper layer. Patriot covers the lower tier. Together, they form a multi-layered shield. That’s critical. Saudi Arabia has faced repeated missile and drone attacks from Iranian-backed Houthis. The THAAD battery changes the equation. It’s designed to intercept short and medium-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase. That’s the final descent. That’s where it counts.
The AN/TPY-2 radar is the backbone. It runs on Gallium Nitride semiconductors. That means better heat resistance and performance. It can operate in forward-based mode or terminal mode. Saudi Arabia received its first radar unit in September 2024. It’s one of the most advanced in the world. That’s not marketing. That’s confirmed by RTX engineers.
Saudi Arabia is now the second Gulf country to deploy THAAD. The UAE activated its batteries in 2016. Qatar is next. They signed a $42 billion hardware package in May. The Kingdom’s THAAD rollout is expected to be complete by 2028. Seven batteries. Full coverage. Integrated with GCC and CENTCOM systems. That’s the roadmap.
The timing matters. The activation comes weeks after Iranian missiles struck Qatar during a 12-day conflict involving Israel and the United States. THAAD units were used in Israel during that exchange. Saudi officials say the system will protect critical infrastructure and strategic facilities. That includes oil terminals, military bases, and urban centers.
Say what you want about Trump, but this deal locked in real defense capability. It’s about alliance depth. And it’s about building a defense industry that doesn’t rely on imports.
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