Information on Cancelled Integrated Flight Test-16 for Ground-based Midcourse Defense Element

Abstract

The Missile Defense Agency within the Department of Defense is developing and testingcomponents of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element, which is intended todefeat long-range ballistic missile threats in the midcourse phase of flight.1 When fullydeployed, the GMD element will include (1) space- and ground-based sensors to provideearly warning and tracking of missile launches; (2) ground-based radars to identify andrefine the tracks of threatening reentry vehicles and associated objects; (3) ground-basedinterceptors, each consisting of a three-stage booster and exoatmospheric kill vehicle, todestroy enemy missiles through hit-to-kill impacts outside the atmosphere; and (4) firecontrol nodes for battle management and execution of the GMD mission. Figure 1 depictsthe principal components of the GMD element.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 08, 2003
Accession Number
AD1165464

Entities

People

  • Robert E. Levin

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Battle Management
  • Defense Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Early Warning Systems
  • Fire Control Radar
  • Ground Based
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Kill Vehicles
  • Midcourse Defense
  • Radar
  • Reentry Vehicles
  • Test Beds
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Military Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects