RIYADH - The Saudi Royal Air Defense Force deployed its first unit of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system, the Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday.

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A launch ceremony was held at the Air Defense Forces Institute in Jeddah after the system completed testing, evaluation and personnel field training.

During the event, the commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces handed over the unit's flag to the commander of the 1st Air Defense Group, marking the unit's operational readiness.