A look at the THAAD security and communications infrastructure

It's the first time media access has been authorized to enter into the highly secured Site X. It’s home to the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system for the Marianas. 

“We do this by manning a 24/7 security operation–our soldiers here are manning physical towers here, there are camera systems that conduct surveillance, and this job is to provide security for our key assets as mentioned, we also look at the perimeter wire, we conduct hourly patrol checks,” said Capt. Tom Borgonia, the Sector Commander from the Guam National Guard. 

He talked about the  24/7 area defense by Team Binadu of the Guam Guard, which is attached to Task Force Talon for integrated defense.  

Another vital part of that integrated defense against ballistic missile threats is communication. 

Capt. Riley Campell is the Echo 3 THAAD Commander. 

He said, “We have a lot of communication between our command post and our tactical station here of identifying what the threat is–tracking it. The radar will detect it, and then it's on our operators to make sure it meets certain criteria to be able to engage. and then, if all that criteria is met, the officer will actually make that engagement.” 

Soldiers here demonstrated how this generator powers up that Tactical Operation and Launcher Communications Station Capt. Campell is referencing. 

“From inside those two shelters, we’re able to monitor the status of our launchers, of our radar, of any system faults, and that’s where we’re able to make the actual engagements of an inbound threat.,” Campell said.

And while KUAM was given access to the site, it was not without some limitations. Our cameras asked to be turned off while traveling to the site of the radar. 

Other precautions for the tour, also here at this THAAD Launcher, which had inert rounds in it for our crew’s safety. 

Still, this THAAD is fully operable. 

Sgt. Cristian Zamora gave us a rundown of what actual operations look like.

He explained, “To operate this equipment, it is a two-man crew –so, I would have one person designated over here along these handles, where they would help elevate the launcher.”

The THAAD holds the capacity for eight interceptor missiles, ready to defend the island and the region.