Why America's missile defense systems are the best in the world

Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is the most advanced missile system on the planet.

THAAD interceptors can hunt and blast incoming enemy missiles right out of the sky with a 100% success rate. 

What's more, the interceptors aren't equipped with warheads. This means they use pure kinetic energy to deliver "hit to kill" strikes to incoming targets.

Depending on the severity of the threat, THAAD can deploy up to eight kill vehicles at once. 

Lockheed Martin's missile launcher is just one element of the four-part anti-missile system.

The graphic below shows the rest of the components needed for each enemy-target interception.

Currently there are five THAAD batteries — each of approximately 100 soldiers — assigned to Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

One of those batteries will be deployed permanently to Guam in order to deter North Korean provocations and further defend the Pacific region.

In July, Washington agreed to equip Seoul with THAAD. The unique missile defense system is slated to be operational by the end of 2017.

Source: Missile Defense Agency

The Army's PAC-3 segment is an upgrade to the proven Patriot missile defense system. Patriot is able to engage aircraft, drones, short-range ballistic missiles as well as cruise missiles. 

The Patriot system is designed to fire various missile interceptors to counter different threats. Like THAAD interceptors, PAC-3 missiles don't carry warheads and instead use "hit to kill" contact to obliterate targets.

The following infographic from Lockheed Martin shows the Patriot system. 

Used in conjunction with THAAD, these systems form a multi-tier theater defense. 

Currently, the US has committed to field Patriot through 2048. 

Source: Missile Defense Agency

Adding to the layered tier of missile defense capabilities, is the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System.

There are currently 84 US Navy ships equipped with Aegis, which is the world's only maritime ballistic missile defense system. 

Similar to THAAD and Patriot systems, Aegis uses "body-to-body" contact to obliterate targets.

Aegis-equipped Navy vessels are also able to detect, track and intercept short and medium-range ballistic missiles.

Source: Missile Defense Agency