Missile Defense Basics

What is the Missile Defense Agency?

MDA is a United States government agency within the Department of Defense. It's made up of federal government civilians, military members from all services, and support contractor personnel. Its mission is to develop and field an integrated, layered, ballistic missile defense system to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends against all ranges of enemy ballistic missiles in all phases of flight. Since receiving Presidential direction in December 2002, the Department of Defense and the Missile Defense Agency has delivered an initial defensive capability to the warfighter while continually developing a more technically sophisticated system to stay ahead of the evolving ballistic missile threat. In the next few years, the Agency intends to deliver significantly more integrated and robust missile defense technologies.

How does missile defense work?

The Ballistic Missile Defense System being developed and tested by MDA consists primarily of "hit-to-kill" interceptors. These interceptors directly hit the incoming missile inside the earth's atmosphere or while the hostile missile is in space by ramming the warhead at a very high closing speed to destroy the target using only kinetic energy. It has been described as hitting a bullet with a bullet - a capability that has been successfully demonstrated in test after test. Another defense approach is used by the Airborne Laser, which uses directed energy to destroy its target. Every aspect of the System is tied into a network of radars and sensors to obtain information on missile launches and to track, discriminate, and target an incoming warhead.

Why are MDA development activities divided into boost, midcourse and terminal segments?

All ballistic missiles share a fundamental characteristic- they follow a trajectory that includes three flight phases - boost, midcourse and terminal. By fielding a layered defense system and attacking the missile in all phases of flight, we exploit opportunities that increase the advantage of missile defense systems and complicate an aggressor's plans. There are advantages and challenges in each of the flight phases. A capability to intercept a missile in the boost phase can destroy a missile regardless of its range or intended aim-point and provide a global coverage capability. A midcourse intercept capability can provide wide coverage of a region or regions, while a terminal defense reduces the protection coverage to a localized area.

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PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)

How is the PAC-3 missile different from the PATRIOT used in Desert Storm?

The PAC-3 missile is a mobile, high velocity, hit-to-kill interceptor developed to provide increased defense capability against short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft. Unlike earlier versions of the PATRIOT missile, which use an explosive warhead to destroy its target, the PAC-3 missile collides with its target in mid-air at extremely high speed, destroying the target and neutralizing its payload. Other system upgrades include: improved radar performance allowing enhanced target discrimination; and new system software that improves determination of target launch and impact points and provides an interface with THAAD. PAC-3 is currently deployed with the U.S. Army around the world.

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Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

THAAD is a mobile interceptor missile designed to intercept short to medium range ballistic missiles inside or just outside the earth's atmosphere. THAAD fire units consist of four principal components: truck-mounted launchers, interceptors, radar, and fire control/communications. The interceptor is a single-stage round consisting of a solid propellant booster and a kill vehicle encased in a canister.

Describe the way THAAD works.

The Interceptor is launched from a truck-mounted, palletized loading system designed launcher. Interceptor steering before booster burnout is provided by an electromechanical Thrust Vector Actuation (TVA) System. The TVA system vectors the solid rocket booster nozzle based on commands given by the missile mission computer. After booster separation, a separate group of several small thrusters make the kill vehicle turn and roll toward the target. The interceptor has autonomous on-board navigation, refines navigation using in-flight target updates and acquires, tracks and intercepts the target.

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ABL

What is the Airborne Laser?

The Airborne Laser, or ABL, is a powerful laser aboard a modified Boeing 747 that destroys ballistic missiles by heating them until they fail structurally. The megawatt-class laser is expected to deposit lethal amounts of energy on missiles hundreds of miles from the airplane. Specialized optics and computerized equipment will spot and track the target. Corrections are made for the atmosphere, which would otherwise distort and spread the beam of light. The laser has successfully completed firing for a sufficient duration to prove it is capable of destroying ballistic missiles in the boost phase of flight.

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Ground-Based Midcourse Defense

How fast is the Kill Vehicle going when it hits the hostile reentry vehicle?

It's going more than 7,000 miles per hour. The target reentry vehicle (warhead) is also traveling about 15,000 miles per hour. The collision between the two occurs at a relative (closing) speed in excess of 16,000 miles per hour.

Is there an explosion?

No. There is a collision in space. It is very powerful and generates debris, gas and dust. The gas and dust may actually look like they burn, but only for an extremely short time. The debris and dust will reenter the atmosphere and burn up like a meteor.

What is inside the reentry vehicle?

The reentry vehicle will carry a bomb of some kind. That bomb could be nuclear, biological or chemical. It could cause mass destruction of people and cities if it reached its target intact. We want to collide with it in space and prevent it from reaching earth.

What else will fly along with the hostile reentry vehicle?

Probably some decoys to try to fool us into colliding with them instead of the reentry vehicle. Also, there is expected to be some debris from the rocket stages themselves.

How do we know we've collided with the target reentry vehicle when we test?

We use a wide variety of sophisticated space-based, ground-based and airborne sensors and instruments, including advanced radar images and tracking information, high-speed photographs and video, and radio signals from the target, to determine the success of the intercept.

Will future GMD tests be truly representative of an actual GMD engagement?

These developmental flight tests are carefully designed to answer specific questions about components of the GMD system; however, they are not controlled or scripted. Rather, they are designed to build confidence in the system that we are working to design.

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Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS)

What is STSS?

The Space Tracking and Surveillance test program is designed to provide a space-based sensor component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System using sensors to detect visible and infrared light for a persistent, global detection, tracking and fire control capability.

How does STSS work?

It will use a wide-view acquisition sensor, a narrow-view tracking sensor, and a signal and data processor subsystem to detect and track ballistic missile launches.

What has the program recently accomplished?

The STSS has completed thermal vacuum testing on Space Vehicle 1, completed STSS Demonstration Satellites ground software acceptance testing and successfully integrated Payload 2 on Space Vehicle 2.

Have any satellites been launched?

Two research and development satellites will be launched into low earth orbit in the summer of 2008, and current plans call for an operational constellation before 2015.

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Near-Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE)

What is NFIRE?

The Missile Defense Agency's Near-Field Infrared Experiment is a data gathering satellite designed to collect high and low resolution images of a boosting rocket to improve the understanding of exhaust plume phenomenology and plume-to-rocket body discrimination for detection and tracking of ballistic missiles.

Has a satellite been launched?

A four-stage Minotaur rocket launched in April of 2007 on a two-year mission to observe aircraft, rocket tests and launches, missile tests as well as forest fires and volcanoes.

Does NFIRE have a communications application?

In cooperation with the German government a laser communication test system for missile defense applications is also onboard.

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Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI)

What is KEI?

The Kinetic Energy Interceptor is a mobile ballistic missile interceptor system that will use a very high-speed rocket system to intercept ballistic missiles in the boost to midcourse phase.

What is it designed to do?

The KEI test program is a developmental capability designed to provide the Ballistic Missile Defense System with a strategically deployable, tactically mobile land- and sea-based capability to defeat medium to long-range ballistic missiles in all phases of flight.

Is this system actively being developed?

The KEI has completed booster hypersonic wind tunnel tests, conducted stage one and stage two rocket motor static fires and initiated avionics, ordnance and structure qualification testing.

Where can I learn more about KEI?

You can find a complete fact sheet on the system at this URL: http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/bmdint.pdf

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Sea-Based Midcourse - Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis BMD)

What is Aegis BMD?

It is the sea-based component of the ballistic missile defense architecture under development and currently deployed. The Aegis BMD mission is to deliver an enduring, operationally effective and supportable ballistic missile defense capability in Aegis cruisers and destroyers, in defense of the U.S., our deployed forces, allies and friends and to increase the effectiveness of the greater Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) by both providing and gaining synergy from other BMDS elements.

How many ships are currently equipped with such a capability?

By 2009, 18 United States Navy ships (15 destroyers and 3 cruisers) will be equipped with the identical capability of being able to detect and track enemy threats, and also engage those, in the short to intermediate range, with iterations of the Standard Missile. The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), for midcourse threats, and the Standard Missile-2 (SM-2), for terminal threats.

How does Aegis BMD assist other elements of BMDS?

Aegis BMD can provide ballistic missile surveillance and tracking data to the BMDS, via Satellite Link-16, to cue other BMDS sensors and support engagements by other elements, as well as make use of data provided by other sensors within the BMDS.

Will the operational Aegis BMD capability be available for international sale?

Yes. Four of Japan's KONGO Class Destroyers will be upgraded with the Aegis BMD Weapon System and SM-3 missiles. Installations are scheduled to be complete by 2010. In December, 2007 Japan became the first allied Navy to conduct an intercept flight test. Three similar tests are scheduled to take place by 2010.

What other international partners have an interest in the Aegis BMD system?

Other prospective international partners include:

• The Joint United States/Australia MOU, signed in July 2004, provides a 25 year framework for cooperation on missile defense.

• Australia has acquired three Aegis Combat Systems via Foreign Military Sales for their Air Warfare Destroyer and continues to show an interest in missile defense.

• The Joint United States/United Kingdom Study has been conducted on BMD potentials and follow on studies are under consideration.

• The U.S. has worked closely with The Netherlands to assess BMD capability of the Air-Defense and Combat Frigate (ADCF) utilizing a modified radar. The Netherlands has participated in U.S. flight tests. Follow on studies are under consideration. A Netherlands BMD Liaison Officer has been assigned to work with the Aegis BMD Staff.

• Germany has a BMD Liaison Officer working with the Aegis BMD staff to develop an understanding of BMD-related issues.

• High level discussions have taken place to provide South Korea and Aegis BMD capability on their KDX-III Class Aegis Destroyers. Spain as also participated in a U.S. flight test.

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Proposed U.S. Missile Defense Assets in Europe

What missile defense assets are proposed for Europe?

The proposal to deploy components of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) to Europe consists of:

• European interceptor site - Up to ten silo-based long-range interceptors located in central Europe (2011-2013)

• European midcourse radar - Relocation of a narrow-beam, midcourse tracking radar currently used in our Pacific test range to central Europe (2011)

Why Poland and the Czech Republic?

• U.S. missile defense interceptors in Alaska and California do not provide protection for Europe

• Technical analysis shows that Poland and the Czech Republic are the optimal locations for fielding U.S. missile defense assets in Europe:
  - Provides defensive coverage for the majority of Europe from longer-range ballistic missiles launched from the Middle East
  - Provides redundant coverage for the U.S. against ICBMs launched from the Middle East

• Placing the interceptor field in Poland and the radar in the Czech Republic maximizes the defensive coverage of both Europe and the United States

• As the following graphic demonstrates, Poland and the Czech Republic are geographically well located on the European continent to defend against longer-range ballistic missiles

Would these missile defense capabilities threaten Russia?

No. The United States has kept, and is continuing to keep, Russia informed about U.S. missile defense policy, plans, and programs. We have used both bilateral diplomatic and Department of Defense-Ministry of Defense channels, as well as the multilateral NATO-Russia Council channel. Any prospective U.S. missile defense assets deployed in Europe would not be directed at Russia. Instead, these central European locations provide optimal defensive coverage against threats launched from the Middle East involving a limited number of intermediate- or intercontinental-range ballistic missiles launched at either Europe or the United States. Furthermore, in theoretical one-on-one engagements, U.S. interceptors in central Europe would not be capable of intercepting Russian ICBMs launched at the United States. There would not be sufficient time to detect, track, and intercep t ballistic missiles launched from western Russia toward the United States. Fielding U.S. missile defense capabilities in Europe will not trigger an arms race between Russia and the United States. We have proposed transparency and confidence-building measures to Russia.

Will the U.S. missile defense assets in Europe provide coverage to all countries in Europe?

• U.S. missile defense systems in Europe would have the capability to extend coverage to all European NATO Allies at risk from long-range ballistic missile attack from the Middle East. Additionally, there are several countries (e.g., Greece and Turkey) that are not at risk of a long-range missile attack from Iran due to their proximity to the threat. Rather, they are vulnerable to short- and medium-range attack, for which Iran has demonstrated capabilities

• The U.S. European assets could, in the future, be offered by the United States, Poland, and the Czech Republic as a contribution to a NATO capability to defend against long-range threats, if NATO approves a military requirement to acquire a missile defense capability to protect population and territory against ballistic missiles of all ranges

• The future NATO ALTBMD capability or any NATO Member State's missile defense system could complement the U.S. European missile defense deployments by providing coverage against shorter range threats

• Current NATO Air Command and Control System (ACCS) architecture and the U.S. BMDS C2BMC systems have been designed to be compatible, easing their integration

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Miscellaneous

I am an employee of a small business, where can I find information about getting business with MDA?

Missile Defense Agency's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is a good place to start. They can be called at (256) 955-4828, or you can visit their section of the website for further information. Click here.

What job opportunities are available with the Missile Defense Agency?

Visit the careers section of the website for a current listing of job openings and to learn more about working for MDA.

Can I use images posted on MDA Link?

All photos in the image gallery are in the public domain. Please credit the Missile Defense Agency, DoD or U.S Government for the photo.

Where can I get an electronic version of the MDA logo for my presentation/publication/web site/school project?

Only those with another government agency or under contract to MDA are allowed to use the MDA logo. It cannot be used for advertising or other commercial purposes without MDA approval and consent. If you are under contract to MDA and wish to obtain an electronic version of the MDA seal for official uses, please have an MDA government sponsor obtain the file for you from the MDA Public Affairs Office. If you are with a government agency, please contact the MDA Public Affairs Office for an electronic copy.