THAAD The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, element gives the Ballistic Missile Defense System a globally transportable, rapidly deployable ability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. Missile Defense Agency photo SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (0.93 MB) Photo By: VIRIN: 170414-D-ZZ999-999.JPG Photo Gallery