Supporting Efforts

Advanced Technology

 

Advanced Technology Fact Sheet (PDF*)

The Advanced Technology Program Executive Office develops new system concepts and key components to ensure the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) keeps pace with the continually evolving ballistic missile threat. The advanced technology effort is focused on developing and demonstrating the next generation of technology that will give us the capability to intercept early in the battle space, force less effective deployment of counter-measures, and reduce the number of interceptors required to defeat a raid of in-bound threats.

  • Standard Missile 3 Block IIB: Phase 4 of the European Phased Adaptive Approach will include the more capable SM-3 Block IIB deployed to Europe in 2020 to provide an early intercept capability against regional threats and augment existing homeland protection against ICBM threats from the Middle East. We have begun concept definition and will invest in developing high performance interceptor components and exploiting existing technology to increase the BMDS effectiveness against high density raids and long range threats.
  • Airborne Laser Test Bed: Towards the ultimate goal of developing a boost phase intercept capability for the BMDS, the agency uses the Airborne Laser Test Bed (ALTB) for laser research and development. Using two solid state lasers and a megawatt-class Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser housed aboard a modified Boeing 747-400 Freighter, it uses directed energy to negate threat ballistic missiles. Following the completion of the 2011 experiments, the ALTB will be used as a national test platform for testing directed energy technologies for the DoD in coordination with the Director of Defense Research and Engineering.
  • Directed Energy Research: Designed to hedge against future threats by expanding our research into advanced laser concepts such as diode pumped gas lasers, solid state electric lasers, and fiber optic beam combining lasers. Additionally, this research is looking into lethality effects of directed energy, beam control and propagation, and modeling and simulation.
  • University Research Programs: Missile Defense Science Technology Advance Research (MSTAR) awards are used to partner with colleges and universities to develop next generation technologies for possible implementation into the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Research is ongoing in the areas of early intercept in the battle space, minimizing the impact of debris, rapid response architecture optimization, tracking and fusion algorithms, fibers for high power laser systems, and modeling and analysis of rocket plumes.
  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program: The purpose of the SBIR program is to harness the innovative talents of our nation's small technology companies for U.S. military and economic strength. The SBIR program funds early-stage Research and Development (R&D) at these companies and is designed to: stimulate technological innovation, increase private sector commercialization of federal R&D, increase small business participation in federally funded R&D, and foster participation by minority and disadvantaged firms in technological innovation.
  • Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program: is similar in structure to SBIR but funds cooperative R&D projects involving a small business and a research institution (e.g., university, federally-funded R&D center, or nonprofit research institution). The purpose of STTR is to create an effective vehicle for moving ideas from our nation's research institutions to the market, where they can benefit both private sector and military customers.