The Missile Defense Agency ( MDA ) is a component of the United States government's Department of Defense responsible for developing a comprehensive defense against ballistic missiles . It had its origins in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) which was established in 1983 by Ronald Reagan and which was headed by Lt. General James Alan Abrahamson . Under the Strategic Defense Initiative's Innovative Sciences and Technology Office headed by physicist and engineer Dr. James Ionson, the investment was predominantly made in basic research at national laboratories, universities, and in industry. These programs have continued to be key sources of funding for top research scientists in the fields of high-energy physics, advanced materials, nuclear research, supercomputing/computation, and many other critical science and engineering disciplines—funding which indirectly supports other research work by top scientists, and which was most politically viable to fund from appropriations for national defense. It was renamed the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in 1993, and then renamed the Missile Defense Agency in 2002. The current director is Lieutenant General Heath A. Collins.
96-544: The Aegis ballistic missile defense system ( Aegis BMD or ABMD ), also known as Sea-Based Midcourse , is a Missile Defense Agency program under the United States Department of Defense developed to provide missile defense against short and intermediate-range ballistic missiles . The program is part of the United States national missile defense strategy and European NATO missile defense system . Aegis BMD
192-553: A Ground Self-Defense Force training area in Araya District, Akita Prefecture and the Mutsumi training area in Hagi , Yamaguchi Prefecture . On 15 June 2020, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono announced that work had been halted on the deployment of the system because additional costs would be needed to ensure that residential buildings would not be hit by rocket boosters used to launch
288-416: A countermeasure to hypersonic boost-glide weapons, by using existing data on the adversary hypersonic systems which were gathered from existing US satellite and ground-based sensors. MDA then fed this data into its existing systems models, and concluded that the adversary hypersonic weapon's glide phase offered the best chance for MDA to intercept it. MDA next proffered a request for information (RFI) from
384-672: A plug and fight network of land, sea, and air-based sensors and aid surface-to-air Patriot and THAAD launchers in anti-ballistic missile capabilities. The Aegis BMD uses the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 mid-course interceptors and the RIM-156 Standard Extended Range Block IV (SM-2ER Block IV) terminal-phase interceptors developed by Raytheon. The Standard Missile 3 is a development of the SM2-ER Block IV, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles above
480-542: A CFT as a team of teams, led by a requirements leader, program manager, sustainer and tester. Some CFTs also have representatives of U.S. allies. Each CFT lead is mentored by a 4-star general. Each CFT can have a Capability Development Integration Directorate. For example, the Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker , in coordination with the Aviation Program Executive Officer (PEO), contains
576-621: A JMSDF AEGIS BMD engagement in the event of a failure of the Taepondong launch. The Japanese government also noted that it could bypass cabinet for an interception under Article 82, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the Self-Defence Forces law. In total, five AEGIS destroyers were deployed at that time. Supplemental to SM-3 capability the Japanese system incorporates an airborne component. Together discrimination between platform tests and satellite launches
672-465: A Japanese warship. On 18 November 2022, the Haguro likewise fired an SM-3 Block IB missile with a successful hit outside the atmosphere ( pictured ). Both test firings were conducted at the U.S. Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai Island , Hawaii, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Missile Defense Agency . This was the first time the two ships conducted SM-3 firings in the same time period, and
768-456: A conference with representatives from AMC, TRADOC, FORSCOM, and Headquarters Department of the Army. AFC is leading the development of a new Army Operating Concept (v. 1.0) for the Army of 2030 to 2040. The 'All-domain sensing cross-functional team' (CFT) is standing up to support the plethora of data coming from data sources across the joint and combined services, allies, and partners. This CFT
864-477: A cooperative agreement with Northeastern University's Kostas Research Institute (KRI) to build on KRI's analytic framework, with six other universities on artificial intelligence and assistive automation (AI/AA), to further Army sub-goals ("mission effectiveness analysis, ontology for decision making, automatic target recognition, human systems integration, cyber resilience/electronic warfare threat defense, and assessing autonomous maneuver/mobility"). Futures Command
960-437: A different phase of the threat ballistic missile flight regime. Each phase offers different advantages and disadvantages to a missile defense system (see missile defense classified by trajectory phase ), and the geography of each defended area dictates the types of systems which can be employed. The resultant flexible and layered defense approach concept is believed to improve overall defense effectiveness. The more opportunities
1056-468: A first test of the hypersonic tracking sensors was imminent. In use: Research and development: United States Army Futures Command#Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System The United States Army Futures Command ( AFC ) is a United States Army command that runs modernization projects. It is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The AFC began initial operations on 1 July 2018. It
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#17330863427131152-482: A forum so vendors could learn what products might soon work as testable or deployable systems. Vendors submitted hundreds of white papers; ones with "very mature ideas" were passed to the Army's acquisition community and to the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC). The Army is interested in ways to accelerate acquisition programs. For example, this
1248-457: A multilateral ballistic missile defense exercise in the Sea of Japan ( pictured ) as part of the military response to ongoing North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile tests over the Japanese home islands . On 16 November 2022, the guided-missile destroyer Maya fired an SM-3 Block IIA missile, successfully intercepting the target outside the atmosphere in the first launch of the missile from
1344-609: A point of contact for Army reformers. The development process will consist of one or more cycles (prototype, demonstration/testing, and evaluation, ) meant to find and discard unrealistic requirements before a project becomes a program. "Our new approach is really to prototype as much as we can to help us identify requirements, so our reach doesn't exceed our grasp. ... A good example is Future Vertical Lift : The prototyping has been exceptional," Esper said in 2019. AFC activities include at least one cross-functional team, its capability development integration directorate (CDID), and
1440-911: A realizable concept before a competitor achieves it. The Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) itself serves as a kind of CFT, operating at a higher level as response to Congressional oversight, budgeting, funding, policy, and authorization for action. AFC and the CFTs are expected to unify control of the Army' s $ 30 billion modernization budget. AFC has given research funding to more than 300 colleges and universities with one-year program cycles. "We will come to you. You don't have to come to us," Murray said on 24 August 2018", Multiple incubator tech hubs are available in Austin, especially Capital Factory, with offices of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and AFWERX (USAF tech hub). AFC will work with other organizations such as Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) as needed. AFC's headquarters
1536-443: A reduction in the objective for the number of Aegis armed warships to field, the U.S. Navy will still fall short of this reduced objective under the fiscal year for 2012 shipbuilding plan for the next 30 years. The Russian government has claimed that the system is "fueling a new arms race", and is constructed "on ridiculous fabricated pretexts" of protection against non-existent threats of the so-called rogue states . Dmitry Rogozin ,
1632-548: A salvo of two Raytheon [RTN] Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors in immediate succession against a medium-range ballistic missile target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii. The first interceptor was not armed and was designed to collect test data, MDA said. The second interceptor, which carried an explosive warhead, intercepted the Lockheed Martin-built target…. MDA called
1728-578: A senior U.S. official currently performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, including mention of the scheduled SM-6 test in her testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense yesterday…. As of April 2024, Aegis BMDS has performed 45 successful intercepts in 54 attempts against ballistic missile targets. FTR-1a would demonstrate exo-atmospheric avionics operation of
1824-580: A system has to neutralize a threat (e.g., by shooting down a missile), the better the chance of success. Activities have also been categorized as fulfilling the goals of one of five "blocks". For example, "block 4.0" was stated as "Defend Allies and Deployed Forces in Europe from Limited Iranian Long-Range Threats and Expand Protection of U.S. Homeland". It included the US missile defense complex in Poland to be constructed, and
1920-553: A term that has been used in relation to unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, later this year. The Pentagon says that unspecified versions of the SM-6 have already demonstrated some degree of capability against these types of weapons, examples of which Russia and China have already begun putting to service. A new variant of the SM-6, the Block IB, is already under development and will itself be able to reach hypersonic speeds. Barbara McQuiston,
2016-405: A wider defense which might also include ground-based facilities. A Navy panel headed by retired Vice Adm. Phillip Balisle has asserted that since the late 1990s there has been an over-emphasis on saving money, including cuts in crews and streamlined training and maintenance, which has led to a drastic decline in readiness, and has left Aegis combat systems in low state of readiness. And in spite of
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#17330863427132112-586: Is an expansion of the Aegis combat system deployed on warships , designed to intercept ballistic missiles in mid-course phase (i.e., after the rocket burn has completed but prior to reentry into the atmosphere). Aegis BMD-equipped vessels can engage potential threats using the Standard Missile 3 mid-course interceptors and the Standard Missile 2 and Standard Missile 6 terminal-phase interceptors. The current effort to deploy Aegis ballistic missile defense (ABMD)
2208-448: Is based in Austin, Texas where it spreads across three locations totaling 75,000 ft ; One location is a University of Texas System building at 210 W. Seventh St. in downtown Austin, on the 15th and 19th floors; UT Regents did not charge rent to AFC through December 2019. AFC personnel also operate in and from dozens of military installations around the country, including: In 2018,
2304-498: Is built from the existing PNT (positioning, navigation, and tracking) CFT. See Combined JADC2 . The contested logistics CFT was stood up in 2023. The commanding general is assisted by three deputy commanders. When AFC was created in 2018, it was given eight cross-functional teams, or CFTs: one for each of the Army's six modernization priorities, and two others for broader capabilities. These teams are Long-Range Precision Fires, Next-Generation Combat Vehicles, Future Vertical Lift,
2400-515: Is cited as the original source of the MDA's mission: "It is the policy of the United States to maintain and improve an effective, robust layered missile defense system capable of defending the territory of the United States, allies, deployed forces, and capabilities against the developing and increasingly complex ballistic missile threat with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and
2496-504: Is not meant to replace the SM-2 series of missiles, but will serve alongside and provide extended range and increased firepower. In January 2018 the Navy approved plans to develop a Dual Thrust Rocket Motor for the SM-6, with a larger 21-inch diameter to replace the current 13.5-inch propulsion package. The new rocket motor would sit atop the current 21-inch booster, producing a new variant of the missile:
2592-599: Is possible by analyzing the angle of ascent. On August 31, 2022, the Japan Ministry of Defense announced that JMSDF will operate two " Aegis system equipped ships " (イージス・システム搭載艦 in Japanese) ( pictured ) to replace its earlier cancellation of the Aegis Ashore program, commissioning one ship by the end of fiscal year 2027, and the other by the end of FY2028. The budget for design and other related expenses are to be submitted in
2688-402: Is the Navy's responsibility, but it is not currently budgeted. The Missile Defense Agency estimates the non-recurring expense to develop the exo-atmospheric target was $ 30 million with each target costing an additional $ 30 million; the endo-atmospheric target will be more expensive to produce according to missile defense analysts. Numerous Navy acquisition programs will require an ASBM surrogate in
2784-649: The Army Acquisition Corps , U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC), and Army Contracting Command . The Principal Military Deputy to the ASA(ALT) is also deputy commanding general for Combat Systems, Army Futures Command, and leads the Program Executive Officers (PEO); he has directed each PEO who does not have a CFT to coordinate with, to immediately form one, at least informally. The current acquisition system has pieces all throughout
2880-658: The Army CIO/G-6 was ordered to create an Identity, Credential, and Access Management system to efficiently issue and verify credentials to non-person entities (AI agents and machines) As well, DCS G-2 will coordinate with CG AFC, and director of A-AI TF, to provide intelligence for Long-Range Precision Fires. CG AMC will provide functional expertise and systems for maintenance of materiel with AI. AFC and A-AI TF will establish an AI test bed for experimentation, training, deployment, and testing of machine learning capabilities and workflows. In 2022, DEVCOM Analysis Center (DAC) signed
2976-717: The European Mid-course Radar (EMR), currently located at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll , which was to have been modified and relocated to the Czech Republic . On 17 September 2009, the Obama administration scrapped the "block 4.0" plan, in favor of a new so-called "European Phased Adaptive Approach" (EPAA). Can intercept all ranges of missiles, but
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3072-826: The First Island Chain " dominated by China. Speaking in March 2021 Davidson said that the "Guam Defense System" of an Aegis Ashore Facility would free up three Arleigh Burke -class destroyers for service elsewhere. Davidson said that Chinese submarines and surface ships together with its ballistic missiles pose "a 360-degree threat" to Guam beyond the capabilities of the existing Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system on Guam. Notable subcontractors and technical experts include Boeing Defense, Space & Security , Alliant Techsystems (ATK), Honeywell , Engility , Naval Surface Warfare Center , SPAWAR Systems Center , Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), and
3168-606: The Kongo -class destroyers for LRST and engagement: JS Kongo , JS Chokai , JS Myoko , and the JS ; Kirishima (in 2010) ( See table below ). Japan's foreign minister, Hirofumi Nakasone and South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yu Myung-hwan , agreed that early April 5, 2009, launch of the North Korean Unha-2 satellite violated UN resolutions 1695 and 1718 of July 2006. Japan's cabinet examined approval of
3264-945: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (Lincoln Lab). The U.S., Romania and Poland have deployed the land based Aegis BMD. Test installation was built at the US Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii in 2000s. A site in Deveselu , Romania has been operational since 2016, while a site at Redzikowo , Poland has been operational since the summer of 2024. Though Japan intended to deploy two sites which would use an AN/SPY-7 AESA radar, these plans were cancelled in 2020. Possible deployments of Aegis Ashore include US Naval Base Guam . As of October 2017, there were 5 Ticonderoga -class cruisers and 28 Arleigh Burke -class destroyers (DDGs 51–78) of
3360-426: The "kill chain" of for example a potential DF-21D attack would be so "complicated" that it would provide a "number of opportunities to defeat the attack". He also stated that unless one country integrates an "entire system of systems" to make this work, the missile itself would be pretty "useless". "Some countries might buy them just to impress their neighbors, but their combat effectiveness would be negligible unless
3456-616: The 2018 administrative infrastructure for the Futures and Concepts Center (formerly ARCIC ) and United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC, now called DEVCOM, (formerly RDECOM)) remains in place at their existing locations. What has changed or will change is the layers of command (operational control, or OPCON) needed to make a decision. AFC declared its full operational capability in July 2019, after an initial one-year period. The FY2020 military budget allocated $ 30 billion for
3552-874: The Aegis Weapon System fired a Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IB guided missile from the Vertical Launch System. Several fire control and engagement functions were exercised during the test. A live target missile launch was not planned for this flight test." On 19 December 2017, the Cabinet of Japan approved a plan to purchase two Aegis Ashore systems equipped with the AN/SPY-7(V)1 , based on Lockheed Martin's LRDR to increase Japan 's self-defence capability against North Korea , using SM-3 Block IIA missiles, and also could work with SM-6 interceptors capable of shooting down cruise missiles. The installation sites are at
3648-628: The Army Futures Command. Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy played a major role in its development. Its first commander was General John Murray , formerly the Army's G-8 . Over his tenure as Army Secretary, Esper led a process known as "night court", working with other top service officials, to free up and shift billions of dollars into modernization programs and based the new command in Austin, Texas, an area known for its innovative, technology-focused workforce. The Army gave
3744-533: The Army secretary ordered AFC to draft an execution order to create an Army AI Task Force (A-AI TF) to support the DoD Joint AI center . The Army AI task force establish scalable machine learning projects at Carnegie Mellon University. That same year, the Army Applications Laboratory was established along with AFC to help connect Army-future efforts and commercial products and ideas. In 2019,
3840-492: The Army such as the United States Army Research Laboratory . ASA(ALT) Bruce Jette started xTechsearch to reward private innovators. The COVID-19 pandemic led the Army to run an xTechsearch Ventilator Challenge. TRX Systems won an xTechsearch award for technology that allows navigation in a GPS-denied environment. On 13 October 2021, Army officials said most of AFC's 31 signature systems, and
3936-551: The Army. ... There's chunks of it in TRADOC and chunks of it in AMC and then other pieces. So really all we're trying to do is get them all lined up under a single command…..from concept, S&T, RDT&E, through the requirements process, through the beginnings of the acquisition system—Milestone A, B, and C. The PEOs work closely with their respective CFTs. Operationally, the CFTs reduce degrees of separation between Army echelons, and provide
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System - Misplaced Pages Continue
4032-695: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force. The Army has identified soldiers who can already code at Ph.D.-level, but who are in unexpected MOSs. In March 2023 the Marine Corps moved its software factory to the Army's software factory in Austin, Texas. The Army looks for ideas from defense contractors In 2018, for example, the Network CFT and the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications—Tactical (PEO C3T) hosted
4128-508: The Black Sea, as these are likely to be less effective against Russia's missile attacks. In 2009 several U.S. Navy ships were fitted with SM-3 missiles to serve this function, which complements the Patriot systems already deployed by American units. Warships of Japan and Australia also have been given weapons and technology to enable them to participate as well. Current Aegis BMD hardware includes
4224-603: The Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government , said in 2012 that the country would "react in the sharpest manner" to any American ships armed with the system found near their shores. The Aegis BMD system, coupled with the RIM-161 Standard missile (SM-3), has also demonstrated a limited capability as an anti-satellite weapon against satellites in the lower portion of low Earth orbit . On February 20, 2008, USA 193
4320-570: The Fires fight"; 4) concealment via improved mobility and reduced signature; 5) "talk often and quickly"; and 6) logistics. By 2022, Futures Command was conducting the third annual iteration of Project Convergence : experiments and joint tests of 300 technologies by the Defense Department and its allies and partners. In October 2022, Wormuth assigned AFC to work on "Army of 2040" concepts. Two months later, Futures Command hosted
4416-528: The Korean peninsula in the Sea of Japan , allowing the other Aegis guided-missile destroyers to meet other contingencies (侵攻阻止) while operating independently to keeping the sea lines of communication (SLOC) open in the East China Sea southwest of the Japanese home islands. In early October 2022, five warships from the United States, Japan, and South Korea held a ballistic missile defense exercise ( pictured ) in
4512-457: The Life Cycle of a program of record: over 1,200 programs/projects were reviewed; by October 2019, over 600 programs of record had been moved from the acquisition phase to the sustainment phase. An additional life cycle management action is underway, to re-examine which of these projects or programs should be cancelled. Futures Command picks which programs to develop. Each CFT works with
4608-530: The Navy to test the LEAP on the Terrier missile. The Terrier LEAP demonstration program lasted from 1991 into 1995 and consisted of four flight tests. Two of these were intercept tests in early 1995; both failed to intercept—the first had a software error in the second-stage booster, the second had a squib (pyrotechnic switch to connect power) in the kinetic kill vehicle that was mounted backwards and failed to fire. During
4704-458: The Network to include Precision Navigation and Timing, Air-and-Missile Defense, Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment. In 2023, the Army announced that it would create a ninth team, for Contested Logistics. The 2023 exercises for IndoPacom will test its prepositioned stocks. The CG of Army Materiel Command is taking the lead for contested logistics. In 2018, McCarthy characterized
4800-557: The Patriot PAC-3 was successfully tested with the Aegis system. As of the 2014 NATO Wales summit a land-based component, Aegis Ashore , was being developed. The first site to be declared operational was Deveselu , Romania in 2016. This consists of equipment commonly used by the Navy being deployed in land-based facilities. This includes SPY-1 radars and a battery of Standard Missile-3s. The Obama administration's plans call for two sites:
4896-565: The SDI and BMDO work, the MDA continues to fund fundamental research in high-energy physics, supercomputing/computation, advanced materials, and many other science and engineering disciplines. The MDA currently publishes the following mission statement: "The Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) mission is to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight." The National Defense Authorization Act
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#17330863427134992-570: The SM-3 Block-1a missile and other improvements to the Aegis Weapons System. Future development of the Aegis BMD system includes Launch on Remote capability, upgraded SM-3 avionics and hardware, and an upgraded Aegis Weapon System. In 2012 Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense will merge with Aegis Open Architecture and deliver the benefits of both platforms. The Launch on Remote capability involves
5088-687: The SM-3 Kinetic Warhead (KW) and the real-time performance of the Aegis BMD AN/SPY-1 radar. At the time this test was conducted, the KW's propulsion system, the Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS), was still being developed. Total system operation was demonstrated in FM-2. The mission was considered successful when the KW acquired and tracked the test target for several seconds. USS Lake Erie
5184-547: The SM-6 Block IB. In March 2018 the MDA announced it "is evaluating the technical feasibility of the capability of the SM-3 Block IIA missile, currently under development, against an ICBM-class target. If proven to be effective against an ICBM, this missile could add a layer of protection, augmenting the currently deployed GMD system." The MDA plans to conduct a demonstration of the SM-3 Block IIA against an ICBM-like target by
5280-488: The Sea of Japan as part of the ongoing military response to ongoing North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile tests over the Japanese home islands. Tom Laliberty of Raytheon said that President Barack Obama was forced to shift from a land based missile defense system to a sea based one because of the difficulties of coordinating with partner nations. Also, the U.S. Defense Department has said it would be just one component of
5376-412: The U.S. Navy, and sailors at the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex and Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), successfully conducted the first flight test involving components of the Aegis Ashore system. During the test, a simulated ballistic missile target was acquired, tracked, and engaged by the Aegis Weapon System. At approximately 7:35 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, May 20 (1:35 a.m. EDT, May 21),
5472-678: The US Navy's Arleigh Burke -class destroyers equipped with BMD in the U.S. Navy. Of the 33 ships, 17 are assigned to the Pacific Fleet and 16 to the Atlantic Fleet. The Navy's FY2015 30-year (FY2015-FY2043) shipbuilding plan projects that the total number of Aegis cruisers and destroyers will be between 80 and 97 during the 30-year period. USS Carney (DDG-64) , USS Ross (DDG-71) , and USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) were upgraded in fiscal year 2012, while USS Cole (DDG-67) , USS McFaul (DDG-74) and USS Porter (DDG-78) were upgraded in fiscal year 2013. The JMSDF has equipped four ships of
5568-409: The US, Australia, and UK. In May 2023, Army Futures Command disclosed concepts for robotic combat platoons, akin to the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) of the Air Force. Futures Command works with the ASA(ALT) , who as Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), has milestone decision authority (MDA) at multiple points in a materiel development decision (MDD). AFC consolidates expertise into
5664-412: The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, revealed that SM-6 missile was being considered for hypersonic defense and that there are plans to test it against an actual hypersonic boost-glide vehicle in the 2023 Fiscal Year. An April 14, 2021 press report stated: The Missile Defense Agency, together with the U.S. Navy, plan to test an SM-6 missile against an "advanced maneuvering threat,"
5760-418: The Vertical Lift CFT and the Aviation CDID. "We were never above probably a total of eight people", the Aviation CFT's Brigadier General Wally Rugen said in 2018. Four of the eight CFT leads have now shifted from dual-hat jobs to full-time status. Each CFT must strike a balance amid constraints—the realms of requirements, acquisition, science and technology, test, resourcing, costing, and sustainment—to produce
5856-406: The annual appropriation of funds for National Missile Defense. National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 114–328)" Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) must be capable of operating in different regions of the world to ensure the success of the MDA mission. The International Strategy was approved by the MDA Director in 2007. The general strategy for international efforts is: As of 2017 MDA
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#17330863427135952-588: The atmosphere (i.e., exo-atmospheric intercept) during the midcourse phase of a hostile ballistic missile's flight. The missile is launched from the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) of the warships. It receives in-flight target updates from the ship. The kinetic warhead (KW) is designed to destroy a ballistic missile's warhead with more than 130 megajoules of kinetic energy by colliding with it. The existing SM-3 Block IA version will be upgraded to SM-3 Block IB, SM-3 Block IIA and SM-3 Block IIB to counter future ballistic missile threats. The SM-2ER Block IV can engage
6048-423: The atmosphere. Ground-based missile defense systems can defend from long-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in this phase. Mobile elements can defend against medium and short ranged missiles in midcourse. This phase is the last chance to intercept the warhead. This contains the least-desirable Interception Point (IP) because there is little room for error and the interception will probably occur close to
6144-524: The ballistic missiles within the atmosphere (i.e., endoatmospheric intercept) in the terminal phase of a missile's trajectory. The missile carries a blast fragmentation warhead. The SM-2ER Block IV was further developed in a new extended range active missile, RIM-174 Standard ERAM (Standard Missile 6), which adds an active radar homing seeker. SM-6 is a dual-capability missile that can be used for either air defense (i.e., countering aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles) or terminal ballistic missile defense; it
6240-401: The coming years, although a limited number of targets (3-5) may be sufficient to validate analytical models The December 2012 report from DOT&E (i.e., DOT&E's annual report for FY2012) did not further discuss this issue; a January 21, 2013, press report stated that this is because the details of the issue are classified. The U.S. arsenal has a "variety of potential countermeasures" and
6336-549: The command's chief and the leaders of new groups, dubbed " § cross-functional teams ", the authority to manage requirements and the leeway to direct dollars. At its founding, Futures Command was focused on six priorities: Long-range precision fires , Next Generation Combat Vehicle , Future Vertical Lift platforms, a mobile & expeditionary Army network, air and missile defense capabilities , and soldier lethality. Murray announced plans to stand up an Army Applications Lab to accelerate acquisition and deployment of materiel to
6432-601: The completion of the ALI program, Aegis BMD was transitioned to the production phase. The first Block I production SM-3 was delivered in October 2004, and the Aegis 3.0 update was delivered in 2005. This system was given major new importance by President Obama in September 2009, when he announced plans to scrap the plans for a missile defense site in Poland , in favor of missile defense systems located on U.S. Navy warships. On 18 September 2009, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin welcomed Obama's plans for missile defense which may include stationing American Aegis armed warships in
6528-400: The country also invested in the needed detection, data processing, and communications systems". - Roger Cliff A December 16, 2016, press report states the following: The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said its new Sea Based Terminal (SBT) system achieved its second ballistic missile intercept during a Dec. 14 test over the Pacific Ocean. During the test, the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53)... fired
6624-439: The defended target. Research and development: One can distinguish disabling the warheads and just disabling the boosting capability. The latter has the risk of "shortfall": damage in countries between the launch site and the target location. See also APS report . Research and development: In use: Research and development: Research and development: By 2021, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) realized that it almost had
6720-400: The defense community for building interceptors (denoted the GPI —glide phase interceptor) against the glide phase of that hypersonic weapon. GPIs would be guided by Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS). These GPI interceptors could first be offered to the Navy for Aegis to intercept using the C2BMC , and later to the Army for THAAD to intercept using IBCS . By 2024,
6816-415: The development of several ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems, including the Patriot PAC-3 , Aegis BMD , THAAD and the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system with a cost of $ 246 billion. They also led the development of numerous other projects, including the Multiple Kill Vehicle and the newer Multi-Object Kill Vehicle, the Kinetic Energy Interceptor and the Airborne Laser . As the inheritor of
6912-500: The end of 2020. On November 17, 2020, an SM-3 Block IIA missile successfully intercepted a threat-representative Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target in its mid-course phase of flight, reaffirming the capability to intercept non-separating, simple separating, and complex-separating ballistic missiles. Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) will provide defense against hypersonic weapons . Glide Phase Interceptor will be integrated with modified Baseline 9 Aegis Weapon System. In 2024,
7008-729: The first in Romania at Deveselu that was opened in May 2015 and the second in Redzikowo , Poland (originally planned for 2018, opened in summer 2024). In 2020, both will get the latest versions of the Aegis BMD software and the latest version of the SM-3. Some radar facilities will be placed in Turkey at a future date. On 21 May 2014, U.S. DOD headlined, "Standard Missile Completes First Test Launch from Aegis Ashore Test Site," and reported that: "The Missile Defense Agency,
7104-430: The form of "item requests", without specific amounts, and the initial procurement of the lead items are expected to clear legislation by FY2023. Construction is to begin in the following year of FY2024. When completed, at 20,000 long tons (20,000 t) each, the two warships will be the largest surface combatant ships operated by Japan. On 6 October 2022, five warships from the United States, Japan, and South Korea held
7200-513: The four rapid capability projects of the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office would be fielded by fiscal year 2023. In 2022, Army leaders projected that 24 of the top-35 priority modernization programs would be deployed by fiscal 2023. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth announced the top six areas for the Army of 2030: 1) improved intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; 2) "Coordination at greater speed"; 3) "Win
7296-738: The lack of a test target simulating the Chinese DF-21 ASBM is highlighted. A threat representative Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) target for operational open-air testing has become an immediate test resource need. China is fielding the DF-21D ASBM, which threatens U.S. and allied surface warships in the Western Pacific. While the Missile Defense Agency has exo-atmospheric targets in development, no program currently exists for an endo-atmospheric target. The endo-atmospheric ASBM target
7392-601: The late 1990s, the U.S. Navy was tasked to provide a weapon system for exploratory testing of LEAP. This phase was designated the Aegis LEAP Intercept (ALI) program. The program was for two successful intercepts in five attempts. On June 13, 2002, the second successful ALI intercept occurred during the FM-3 flight test mission. Initial Aegis BMD success may have contributed to President George W. Bush 's decision to deploy an emergency ballistic missile capability by late 2004. Upon
7488-460: The launching nations' territory. This is the phase after powered flight but before the apogee . It is significantly less challenging than boost phase intercepts, less costly, minimizes the potential impact of debris, and reduces the number of interceptors required to defeat a raid of missiles. This phase begins after the booster burns out and begins coasting in space. This can last as long as 20 minutes. Any debris remaining will burn up as it enters
7584-406: The missile boost phase is only from one to five minutes. It is the best time to track the missile because it is bright and hot. The missile defense interceptors and sensors must be in close proximity to the launch, which is not always possible. This is the most desirable interception phase because it destroys the missile early in flight at its most vulnerable point and the debris will typically fall on
7680-678: The missiles. Later in the month Japan's National Security Council confirmed the cancellation of the plan. On 23 September 2020, Lockheed Martin commented that it would be expensive to potentially convert the AA system for maritime use since a revamp in the design is required. In July 2020 Admiral Philip S. Davidson , the head of United States Indo-Pacific Command advised that he sought funding to construct an Aegis Ashore system in Guam by 2026 both to defend existing U.S. military facilities on Guam and to provide offensive "long-range precision strike capability into
7776-502: The prototype to address the factors needed to pass the Milestone decisions A, B, and C which require Milestone decision authority (MDA) in an acquisition process. This consolidation of expertise thus reduces the risks in a Materiel development decision (MDD), for the Army to admit a prototype into a program of record.) The existing processes (as of April 2018) for a Materiel development decision (MDD) have been updated to clarify their place in
7872-563: The relevant CFT, which balances the constraints needed to realize a prototype, beginning with requirements, science and technology, test, etc., then enters the acquisition process (typically the Army prototypes on its own and, as of 2019, initiates acquisition at Milestone B in order to have the Acquisition Executive, with the concurrence of the Army Chief of Staff, decide on production as a Program of Record at Milestone C). Next, refine
7968-641: The soldiers, including by using artificial intelligence (AI). Murray also said he would hire a chief technology officer for AFC. A fundamental strategy was formulated, involving simultaneous integrated operations across domains. This strategy involves pushing adversaries to standoff , by presenting them with multiple simultaneous dilemmas. A goal is that by 2028, the ability to project rapid, responsive power across domains will have become apparent to potential adversaries. In 2018, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said Futures Command would have three areas of focus: Army Secretary Mark Esper said that
8064-570: The strategic environment due to the rapid dissolution of the Soviet Union led, in 1993, to Bill Clinton focusing on theater ballistic missiles and similar threats, and renaming it the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization , BMDO. With another change to a more global focus made by George W. Bush , in 2002 the organization became the Missile Defense Agency. The Missile Defense Agency is partially or wholly responsible for
8160-514: The target "complex" but declined to elaborate. However, according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, the target emulated China's Dong-Feng 21 (DF-21), a ballistic missile equipped with a maneuverable re-entry vehicle and designed to destroy U.S., aircraft carriers. The event, designated Flight Test Standard Missile-27 (FTM-27), was SBT's first salvo test and its second intercept in as many tries. In March 2020, Mike Griffin,
8256-651: The tests validated the ballistic missile defense capabilities of Japan's newest Maya -class destroyers . On 23 December 2022, the Japanese Ministry of Defense's 2023 budget and program guidance illustrated examples of operation (運用の一例) for the Aegis-equipped naval forces of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF). The two ASEV warship would be exclusively tasked for dedicated ballistic missile defense (BDM) missions (BMD等) and operate off
8352-608: The top six modernization priorities over next five years. The $ 30 billion came from $ 8 billion in cost avoidance and $ 22 billion in terminations. More than 30 projects were envisioned to become the materiel basis needed for overmatching any potential competitors in the ' continuum of conflict ' over the next ten years in multi-domain operations ( MDO ). From an initial 12 people at its headquarters in 2018, AFC grew to more than 17,000 people across 25 states and 15 countries in 2019. research facilities and personnel (including ARCIC and RDECOM) moved from other commands and parts of
8448-855: The use of off-board sensors, such as the Space Tracking and Surveillance System to provide a targeting solution for a SM-3 launch. As of 2022, variations of the Aegis BMD system currently in service are the 4.x, 5.x and 6.x. The improved versions are equipped with advanced processors and software, as well as upgraded variants of the SM-3 interceptor missile. BMD capable ships can have their BMD capabilities upgraded from earlier versions to later versions. BMD version 6.x comes with AN/SPY-6 radar in Flight III and Flight IIA destroyers. US Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) program will integrate MIM-104 Patriot , NASAMS , AN/TPY-2 and F-35 Lightning II radars with Aegis radars to create
8544-1047: Was an explicit request in the 2019 solicitation for requests for information about Future Vertical Lift . In January 2020, the optionally manned fighting vehicle solicitation was cancelled when its requirements added up to an unobtainable project; By October 2021, experiments with a company-sized tele-operated / unmanned formation were underway at Camp Grayling , Michigan. The 18 light and medium robotic combat vehicles (RCV), in concert with surrogate heavy RCVs (modified M113 armored personnel carriers ), proxy manned control vehicles (MET-Ds), and drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ( ISR ), were to complete ATEC (Army Test and Evaluation Command) safety testing in May 2022 and live-fire drills in August 2022. By June 2022, Army RCVs had demonstrated some disruptive capabilities, in preparation for Project Convergence 2022 . At PC22, resupply by unmanned helicopters and other autonomous capabilities were demonstrated by systems from
8640-565: Was begun during the mid-1980s as part of President Ronald Reagan 's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). The SDI plan was initially for a space-based railgun system. However, technological constraints caused the system to be transformed into a surface-based system known as the Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP). The original testing of the LEAP was done as part of the Army LEAP program. Later, SDIO worked with
8736-567: Was created as a peer of Forces Command (FORSCOM), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Army Materiel Command (AMC). While the other commands focus on readiness to "fight tonight", AFC aims to improve future readiness for competition with near-peers. The AFC commander functions as the Army's chief modernization investment officer. It is supported by the United States Army Reserve Innovation Command ( 75th Innovation Command ). Army Futures Command
8832-475: Was destroyed by a group of Aegis ships in the Pacific; the stated reason was concern that satellite's hydrazine payload might contaminate land area upon re-entry from an uncontrolled orbit. The launching vessel was USS Lake Erie , and one SM-3 missile was used. Interception was at an altitude of 133 nautical miles (247 kilometers). According to a Congressional Research Service report dated July 31, 2014,
8928-588: Was established by Secretary of the Army Mark Esper to improve Army acquisition by creating better requirements and reducing the time to develop a system to meet them. Between 1995 and 2009, the Army spent $ 32 billion on programs such as the Future Combat System that were later cancelled with no harvestable content. As of 2021, the Army had not fielded a new combat system in decades. General Mark Milley , then Army Chief of Staff, helped establish
9024-546: Was the launching ship. FTM-10 marked the first time another country participated in a sea-based anti-ballistic missile exercise. The Japanese government was interested in purchasing a system similar to Aegis BMD to deter potential threats and was invited to participate in the FTM-10 exercise. The Japanese naval vessel JDS Kirishima (a Kongō -class destroyer ) was stationed off the coast of PMRF and observed all FTM-10 events. Missile Defense Agency Rapid changes in
9120-706: Was to stand up Army Software Factory in August 2021, to immerse soldiers and Army civilians of all ranks in modern software development, in Austin. Like the Training with Industry program, participants are expected to take these practices back with them, to influence other Army people in their future assignments, and to build up the Army's capability in software development. The training program lasts three years, and will produce skill sets for trainees as product managers, user experience and user interface designers, software engineers, or platform engineers. The Al Work Force Development program and this Software Factory will complement
9216-607: Was working on facilities in Germany, Romania, Poland, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Ballistic missile systems using advanced liquid- or solid-propellant propulsion are becoming more mobile, accurate and capable of striking targets over longer distances and are proliferating worldwide. MDA will be using multiple technologies to defend Guam. MDA divides its systems into four phases: boost; ascent; mid-course; and terminal. Each of these corresponds to
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