▁( TH A AD ) ▁system ▁began ▁production ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁Its ▁stated ▁range ▁as ▁a ▁short ▁to ▁intermediate ▁ball istic ▁miss ile ▁inter ceptor ▁means ▁that ▁it ▁is ▁not ▁designed ▁to ▁hit ▁mid course ▁IC B M s , ▁which ▁can ▁reach ▁terminal ▁phase ▁spe eds ▁of ▁mach ▁ 8 ▁or ▁greater . ▁But ▁for ▁terminal ▁phase , ▁a ▁TH A AD ▁inter ceptor ' s ▁speed ▁can ▁reach ▁mach ▁ 8 , ▁and ▁TH A AD ▁has ▁repeatedly ▁proven ▁it ▁can ▁intercept ▁desc ending ▁ex o at mos pher ic ▁miss iles ▁in ▁a ▁ball istic ▁traject ory . ▁▁ ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁released ▁information ▁as ▁early ▁as ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁about ▁their ▁plans ▁to ▁develop ▁a ▁command ▁system ▁that ▁was ▁intended ▁to ▁replace ▁Ray the on ’ s ▁Patri ot ▁miss ile ▁( S AM ) ▁eng agement ▁control ▁station ▁( E CS ) ▁along ▁with ▁seven ▁other ▁forms ▁of ▁defense ▁command ▁systems . ▁The ▁system , ▁the ▁Integr ated ▁Air ▁and ▁Miss ile ▁Def ense ▁Battle ▁Command ▁System ▁( I BC S ), ▁is ▁an ▁anti - ball istic ▁miss ile ▁defense ▁system ▁designed ▁to ▁shoot ▁down ▁short , ▁medium , ▁and ▁intermediate ▁range ▁ball istic ▁miss iles ▁in ▁their ▁terminal ▁phase ▁by ▁intercept ing ▁with ▁a ▁hit - to - kill ▁approach . ▁A ▁prime ▁contract or ▁was ▁announced ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 ; ▁by ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁a ▁first ▁flight ▁test ▁integrated ▁a ▁network