Homeland Missile Defense System Conducts Successful Launch of Upgraded Boost Vehicle

N/A, UNITED STATES

09.12.2021

Story by Stacy Swanson Domangue 

Missile Defense Agency

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted a successful launch of a Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Ground Based Interceptor (GBI) flying a mock-up of the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV). This test was the first flight test of a three-stage booster operating in two-stage mode meaning the third stage was not ignited, allowing earlier release of the kill vehicle providing increased battlespace. This new capability is known as a 2-/3-Stage selectable GBI. This capability gives the warfighter greater flexibility in executing the defense of the homeland while significantly increasing the battlespace for successful threat engagement. Using a mock-up of an EKV provided a significant reduction in cost of the test and spared critical defense assets that were not required in this non-intercept test.

Initial indications show the test met requirements. Program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.

"This was the first flight test of the new selectable stage booster configuration in two-stage mode," said MDA Director Vice Admiral Jon Hill." The system worked exactly as it was designed to do, and the results of this test provide evidence of the greatly increased battlespace the selectable booster brings to the Warfighter. The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we continue to provide enhanced capabilities for our existing Ground Based Interceptor fleet while we rapidly design and deliver the leap ahead technology of the Next Generation Interceptor."

The new selectable stage booster provides the warfighter with more engagement time and space; providing for a greater defense in depth. Future upgrades to sensing and tracking capabilities when coupled with the selectable stage booster will provide the warfighter with a robust ability to assess the threat after initial engagement while retaining the time to engage again if necessary. “This is our first step toward a robust ‘shoot-assess-shoot’ capability,” added Vice Admiral Hill.

The GMD element of the Missile Defense System provides combatant commanders the capability to engage and destroy intermediate and long-range ballistic missile threats to protect the U.S. The mission of the Missile Defense Agency is to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies and friends from limited ballistic missile attacks of all ranges in all phases of flight.

Additional information about all elements of the ballistic missile defense system can be found at www.mda.mil.

Please direct all media related queries to Mark Wright at 571-231-8212, [e-mail] or Heather Cavaliere at 256-503-7802, [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 09.12.2021
• Date Posted: 09.15.2021 09:42
• Story ID: 405282
• Location: N/A, US