The U.S. Army has deployed a second battery of the THAAD missile defense system to Israel amid heightened tensions with Iran.

The Times of Israel reported on the move, citing the Saudi news channel Al-Hadath.

According to the report, the battery arrived at Israel’s Nevatim Air Base in the south of the country on April 5, 2025.

The transfer was carried out using a C-5M Super Galaxy heavy transport aircraft, whose flight was tracked via commercial flight monitoring services.

The aircraft remained at the base for approximately eight hours before departing.

The deployment of the additional THAAD battery is linked to increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program.

Following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the political spotlight, he urged Iran to sign a new agreement limiting its nuclear activities. Such a deal could potentially prevent Iran from developing nuclear warheads.

Iran has rejected the proposal, and tensions in the region have escalated, particularly due to Israel’s stance that views Iran as a primary threat.

The U.S. Army currently operates seven THAAD batteries worldwide, tasked with defending strategic locations.

With the second battery now in Israel, five batteries remain operational elsewhere. South Korea and Guam systems remain deployed, leaving only three in reserve.

The Pentagon has placed an order for an eighth battery, as existing systems are no longer sufficient to meet operational needs in all key areas where it is necessary to cover forces from missile attacks.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is designed for exo-atmospheric interception of ballistic missiles.

It uses kinetic impact to destroy targets, relying solely on the missile’s energy without an explosive warhead. The single-stage solid-fuel missile is powered by an engine developed by Pratt & Whitney.

The interceptor is equipped with an infrared seeker that operates in mid- and long-wave infrared bands.
Its guidance system combines inertial navigation with command updates. THAAD can intercept targets traveling at speeds between 3.5 and 4.8 kilometers per second.

The system’s radar can detect threats at distances of up to 1,000 kilometers.

Militarnyi previously reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced in October 2024 that the first THAAD battery had been fully deployed in Israel.