Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors
Abstract
The Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) network of layered Sensors provides essential situational awareness and fire control data for the command and control of BMDS weapon systems, such as Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). The suite of remote ground-based sensors provide early warning, midcourse and terminal ballistic missile defense threat data enabling layered detection and tracking of ballistic missile targets, providing fire-control quality position, velocity, and discrimination data through Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Fire Control (GFC), or Command and Control, Battle Management, Communications (C2BMC). Overlapping coverage of geographically diverse sensors provides improved threat track data, reduces the impact of the loss of any one sensor, and reduces the potential impact of countermeasures. The extended coverage and accuracy provided by a network of layered sensors increases the defensive footprint and reduces the number of target engagements required, thereby conserving interceptor inventory and maintaining a high probability of successful engagement. Networked forward-based sensors enable C2BMC to pair the best sensor coverage with the best available weapon system to provide the most effective defense against ballistic missile threats. This Program Element includes discrimination improvement efforts, to develop and field an integrated set of capabilities to improve BMDS effectiveness and resilience against the evolving threat. The end result will be a BMDS architecture more capable of discriminating and destroying a re-entry vehicle with a high degree of confidence, improving Warfighter shot doctrine and preserving inventory. This effort encompasses Near-term, Mid-term, and Far-term discrimination improvements capability fielding. The discrimination improvements require a coordinated effort between Systems Engineering (PE 0603890C), Ground-based Midcourse Defense (PE 0603882C), BMD Sensors, C2BMC (PE 0603896C), Aegis BMD (PE 0603892C) and Advanced C4ISR (PE 0603179C). The BMD Sensors Program contributes to regional missile defense through the following activities: -Development, delivery and deployment/redeployment of remote, forward based Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control (AN/TPY-2) radars for operations or tests. Radars provide early warning, track, and discrimination data through all phases of ballistic missile flight. Through the BMDS C2BMC and coalition data links, the AN/TPY-2 provides fire control data to enable remote Standard Missile (SM)-3 engagements by Aegis BMD, to allow earlier engagement by the Arrow Weapon System, and to cue deployed THAAD and U.S. and partner PATRIOT batteries. -Enhancements/development of AN/TPY-2 software across the fleet of radars. Lessons learned from each radar are addressed in new software builds that are developed, tested, and subsequently installed at each radar. AN/TPY-2 radars can be configured to operate either as a THAAD Fire Unit Radar (terminal mode) or Forward-Based Radar. These radars are transportable, adding flexibility to respond to geographical changes in threats. The AN/TPY-2 used in a Forward-Based role detects and acquires ballistic missile threats and provides precision track and discrimination data during the boost and midcourse phases of flight. The BMDS C2BMC provides this track and discrimination data for cueing and engagements to GFC for GMD defense of the homeland and to C2BMC for Aegis BMD and other regional missile defense systems to support defense of U.S., deployed forces, friends, and allies. This track and discrimination data identifies the lethal object, significantly reduces the target uncertainty, and provides additional reaction time to increase the probability of successful BMDS engagements. The AN/TPY-2 used in terminal mode is an integral component of the THAAD Battery. The THAAD battery radar is capable of tracking multiple threats and multiple interceptors during engagements in the terminal phase. It provides surveillance, acquisition, track, discrimination, interceptor communications, and hit assessment data collection for the fire control. The current and planned utilization of the AN/TPY-2 radars supports GMD, THAAD, and the Aegis Weapon System. The BMDS sensor network also includes the COBRA DANE Radar at Eareckson Air Force Station, Alaska, and the Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWRs) at Beale Air Force Base, CA; Fylingdales Royal Air Force, United Kingdom, and Thule Air Force Base in Greenland. The Ultra High Frequency Early Warning Radars (EWRs) have been upgraded to include missile defense functionality against long-range threats in addition to their existing Missile Warning and Space Surveillance missions. The Clear EWR, located at Clear Air Force Station, AK, and the Cape Cod EWR, Located at Cape Cod Air Force Station, MA, are also being upgraded to include missile defense functionality. Upgrade activities began in CY 2012 and are expected to be completed in FY 2017. The addition of the Clear UEWR and Cape Cod UEWRs to the BMDS sensor architecture will improve BMDS sensor coverage and provide new engagement options against long-range missile threats. The BMD Vision Study, conducted by MDA with USSTRATCOM, identified the need to enhance the discrimination capabilities of our sensors and weapon systems. There is an Enhanced Discrimination and sensors program that will improve discrimination capabilities of the AN/TPY-2, COBRA DANE, Sea Based X-Band, and the UEWR radars against the long range missile threat. The BMDS Sensors Program also contributes to the testing and proving of the U.S. missile defense systems through Modeling and simulation (M&S) efforts, including: enhanced sensor models, development of Radio Frequency scene generators, integration of digital simulations into the BMDS M&S architecture, and Verification, Validation, and Accreditation of radar models. MDA is conducting studies to determine optimal radar site locations for defense of the U.S. from Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The locations would include a site for deployment of a long-range discrimination radar and a potential homeport for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) on the East Coast of the United States. The initial analysis will determine the operational areas where sensors could be placed to meet the sensor needs of the BMD system. Once this analysis is complete MDA will begin development of site scoring criteria and, in the case of the SBX, assessments of transit time and time on station for candidate home port options. MDA will then develop initial screening criteria for operations and maintenance. This will be the basis for selection of at least three sites for more detailed examination, including environmental impact studies. MD40 Program-Wide Support (PWS) consists of essential non-headquarters management efforts providing integrated and efficient support to MDA functions and activities across the entire BMDS.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- 0603884C_4_0400_PB_2017
- Change Summary Explanation
- The FY 2017 increase reflects the realignment of funds from the Operations and Maintenance appropriation for concept development and analysis of new discrimination capabilities for a medium range BMD sensor to improve the defensive coverage of Hawaii.
- Service Agency Name
- Missile Defense Agency
Entities
Organizations
- Missile Defense Agency
Related Documents
- Child Project: BMDS Radars
- Child Accomplishment: Basic Development Program
- Child Accomplishment: BMDS Radars Modeling & Simulation (M&S)
- Child Accomplishment: Capability Development Program
- Child Accomplishment: Sensors Directorate Operations
- Child Accomplishment: Upgrade Clear Early Warning Radar
- Child Cost Item: 952217cc5d416a905457ac280de2d86a
- Child Cost Item: e694f9879ea2cfc0a26e90e0dbf7587e
- Child Cost Item: c88d230784083ecd7f325aa0b737e34c
- Child Cost Item: 3553e2ba7096b4ac4d2743df22e9abaa
- Child Cost Item: 43d3334fed1d630455210aa20f799a6c
- Child Cost Item: da16a4b2bb82d5a92958f2787ef06504
- Child Cost Item: da78b3f993b532549b64e479d6fb1f60
- Child Cost Item: b7a4ced10b7f042f258969cd3b9b6d61
- Child Cost Item: b588bb992d792bb939f4bafe4b576988
- Child Cost Item: c7e031f001296e5291337c9556578515
- Child Cost Item: be94188280fa35519d621bc71beb88f2
- Child Cost Item: bb83fec568aa3fe8c92c95e6539d61c1
- Child Cost Item: 8f9f135f4d73310b8cf0be1fb25e5464
- Child Cost Item: 694702ee1408a244245e463b7744309f
- Child Cost Item: e893d157fbd57d4e9afcb52a708cb3db
- Child Cost Item: 87fdd0f00fe4ea0c3c27f24baae2663c
- Child Cost Item: 7819567b9ceba64ec5f33708f4b24078
- Child Cost Item: 6ab3c050377e6d79e50dff907ac1562f
- Child Cost Item: 3ee9018c89fd2daff13b5e4c700430cc
- Child Cost Item: ac38b3588f3dae9313d925c613a1a8cf
- Child Cost Item: 724bd21093eba918d1c5d0d33ce44084
- Child Cost Item: 87b411131c21744014fd65ab7d04f954
- Child Cost Item: 98a3f19f8a8a9fb570a6e009e812e810
- Child Cost Item: 017dade01b8942ac27d20fbcdfd0d9a8
- Child Cost Item: 0c04f4ea4117ae220704e38f31560a50
- Child Cost Item: 518768ba08d51ea478297a1664d77953
- Child Cost Item: 5d69f8d0cce729cba4c59a048d085291
- Child Cost Item: 9d13682cfa3df2aee1dbd70326c7d3cd
- Child Project: Cyber Operations
- Child Accomplishment: Network / System Certification and Accreditation (C&A)
- Child Cost Item: fce5ce3ccb5e8c01cee0231a0c89350f
- Child Cost Item: 593c5cda8ae67f4322d555681cae71d6
- Child Cost Item: 33a60f1636757602821f22cff34ce75c
- Child Project: Program-Wide Support
- Child Accomplishment: Program Wide Support
- Child Cost Item: 7b7a3102bb1b900275bcea647898c5a8
- Child Cost Item: 54e90da36992b474d00e7cdf7ecab210
- Child Cost Item: 3589b11e68f0fa6cc440d551ed6e6adb
- Child Cost Item: b4f9d4842834da146a2fe1dcce0b139d
- Child Cost Item: 70d10869f82c853267cd42dbe085bdd3
- Child Cost Item: aff02068be3b8981b5b45ba18000a58c
- Child Cost Item: f113baee2183b1751d1d8ee4485cf5eb
- Child Cost Item: 3ec60e6d8b4d2628479459b91fdc41c1