The graduation of 97 Saudi military officers from a training course to operate the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic-missile defense system marks another sign of the United States' commitment to regional stability.

The Royal Saudi Air Defense commissioned officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers graduated in November at Fort Bliss, Texas, after 20 weeks of individual training.

The Saudi soldiers are to operate RSADF THAAD Battery 1 after completing collective training in Jeddah, the Redstone Rocket reported in December.

As part of the individual training, each soldier had to pass an English test and meet all security and visa requirements. They then attended the Defense Language Institute in San Antonio, Texas, for 25 weeks before heading to Fort Bliss.

"The completion of this individual training represents an important step in preparing you for the vital mission that you will be carrying out on behalf of your nation," Mark Jenkins, director for Missile Defense Agency (MDA) international affairs, told them.

The THAAD training is part of a contract approved in 2017 by the US State Department. The deal covered 44 THAAD launchers and 360 THAAD Interceptor Missiles.

Training is expected to conclude in about three and a half years with the goal of having more than 760 Saudis fully trained for seven THAAD batteries.

Critical missile defense

Designed to defeat short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal flight phase, THAAD has played a key role in protecting the United States and its allies since it first entered service in 2008.

The THAAD system consists of interceptors, launchers, the AN/TPY-2 ground-based X-band radar, a fire control system and support equipment.

The AN/TPY-2 radar, which can detect missile threats 870 to 3,000km away, utilizes advanced gallium nitride semiconductors for improved surveillance.

Each THAAD battery typically includes six truck-mounted launchers with eight interceptor missiles per launcher.

Made up of a single-stage booster and a kinetic kill vehicle that employs hit-to-kill technology to destroy targets, THAAD interceptors can reach speeds of Mach 8 to intercept incoming missiles both within and beyond the atmosphere at an estimated range of 150–200km.

As part of the THAAD deal with Saudi Arabia, some components for the system are being built locally to enhance manufacturing capabilities in the nation and to transfer expertise to the country's defense industry

Cooperation on missile defense is just one aspect of the US-Saudi partnership.

The two nations regularly participate in bilateral and multilateral military training exercises, including major drills such as Red Flag, Eagle Resolve and Red Sands, to enhance interoperability and advanced air defense capabilities.

The kingdom purchases almost 80% of its arms from the United States, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.