FORT BLISS, Texas—The Army’s first unit to use a new missile defense system that can knock down missiles and other ballistic weapons inside or outside the atmosphere was officially formed at Fort Bliss on Wednesday.

Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, will be the first unit to manage and use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, weapons system.

The missile defense program is more than 15 years in the making. Program commanders said one of the largest benefits to the new technology, to be housed at Fort Bliss, is that it knocks down deadly weapons from landing anywhere near their intended targets.

THAAD is the first missile defense system to reach targets outside the atmosphere.

Brig. Gen. Bob Woods, commander of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said Wednesday that the formation of the new unit was a “high-five day.”

The new unit is expected to completely field THAAD by next year.