Ballistic Missile Defense System Space Programs

Abstract

This program element primarily funds the Spacebased Kill Assessment (SKA) project, a Missile Defense Agency (MDA) experiment, demonstrating kill assessment from space. MDA Aegis BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) program intercept testing experience provided a solid understanding of kill assessment physics. Several events set the stage for the kill assessment experiment that later became known as SKA: - Section 237 in the FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act directed MDA to improve kill assessment for the GMD program with an initial kill assessment capability by December 31, 2019 - An MDA study called the Space Layer Option Study found that disaggregated systems could provide sensor capabilities at lower costs - A once in a decade opportunity became available when the commercial sector offered hosted payload services at costs far below what MDA could expect if it used traditional DOD space acquisition models SKA incorporates Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations to examine the operational feasibility of disaggregating large satellites (report number GAO-15-7) and to provide data for the business case for shared or dedicated satellite control, including the ground antenna networks (report number GAO-13-315). The favorable cost and schedule performance on SKA is also consistent with the GAO's assessment of commercially hosted payload programs (report number GAO-18-493). The SKA experiment will utilize a network of small IR sensors integrated onto commercial host satellites which, while on orbit, will observe missile defense intercepts and deliver a kill assessment declaration to the BMDS. SKA has the opportunity to change the economics of the defense of the American homeland from enemy missiles. Space Sensor Layer: In FY 2019 the MDA, in collaboration with U.S. Air Force, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Space Development Agency (SDA) is defining a capabilities-based spiral acquisition space program, referred to as the Space Sensor Layer (SSL). SSL is an integral part of a resilient, multi-tiered Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Enterprise Architecture. This multi-tiered architecture will consist of systems in different orbits that provide and integrated capability to meet critical warfighter requirements in a contested space environment. This program element also funds Cyber Security efforts necessary to support BMDS Space Programs.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2020
Source ID
1206895C_4_0400_PB_2020
Change Summary Explanation
Increase in FY 2018 from PB19 to PB20 reflects the Omnibus Above Threshold Reprogramming which provided funding to support the Space Sensor Layer (SSL). Increase in FY 2019 from PB19 to PB20 reflects congressional plus ups for SSL development ($73.000 million) and funding Cyber Security Initiatives ($5.000 million) as outlined in Public Law 115-245. Increase in FY 2020 from PB19 to PB20 provides the conversion of an experimental SKA to an operational SKA by replacing the administrative quality communications lines with ruggedized, BMDS-quality communications lines, BMDS integration for operationalization, and adds a training capability necessary for the new operators in the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center (MDIOC) Payload Analysis Center.
Service Agency Name
Missile Defense Agency

Entities

Organizations

  • Missile Defense Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Contracts
  • Cost Analysis
  • Cybersecurity
  • Defense Systems
  • Engineering
  • Information Systems
  • Infrared Detectors
  • National Security
  • Product Development
  • Risk
  • Security
  • Space Systems
  • Systems Engineering
  • United States Strategic Command

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites

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