The partnership followed years of discussions that began in 2007 between the UAE Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on countering the growing regional ballistic missile threat. These talks focused on the need for a system capable of endo- and exo-atmospheric interception, leading the UAE to become THAAD’s first international customer.
“The decision to field THAAD in the UAE was driven by a mutual desire to realize regional stability through strong deterrence, protect citizens, and defend critical infrastructure,” recalled Dawn Golightly, vice president, Upper Tier Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin. “When the UAE signed on as our first FMS customer, it opened a new chapter in our long-standing partnership.”
The first THAAD battery, including launchers, missiles, an AN/TPY-2 radar and a fire control system, arrived in Abu Dhabi in October 2015 and was followed by extensive testing and training with US and industry partners. The system demonstrated its operational capability in January 2022, when it successfully intercepted multiple hostile medium-range ballistic missiles.
According to Lockheed Martin, those engagements confirmed THAAD’s effectiveness and the strength of the UAE’s integrated air and missile defence architecture, as well as the value of close cooperation in training and operations. As the UAE marks a decade of THAAD operations, the company says it is focused on enhancing system capabilities and sustaining its long-term commitment to regional stability.
