Supporting Efforts

Advanced Technology

 

Advanced Technology Fact Sheet (PDF*)

Advanced Technology develops new system concepts and key components to ensure the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) keeps pace with the continually evolving ballistic missile threat.

  • Algorithms and Software:  Develops advanced detection, tracking, discrimination, and battle management software (algorithms) to improve the capability of weapons, and sensors and command and control.
  • Early Launch Detection and Tracking:  Provides early threat launch detection and tracking to improve the availability and performance of an over-the-horizon radar for missile defense applications; also investigates the ability to detect threats through cloud cover by developing sensors that can propagate through clouds.
  • Electro-Optical and Infrared Passive Surveillance:  Develops improved infrared focal plane array technologies for air- and space-based surveillance platforms; also develops interceptor seekers, like those on the Multiple Kill Vehicle, to enhance BMDS performance by improving detection, tracking, and target selection capabilities.
  • Radar System Technology:  Develops technologies that improve radar system sensitivity, hemispheric radar coverage, enhanced discrimination capability, robust operations in a countermeasures environment, and transportable and scalable radar systems.
  • Spectral Sensing for Kill Assessment: Investigates the exploitable kinetic-kill impact phenomenology and development of militarily useful algorithms for characterizing the result of a midcourse nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile intercept attempt.
  • Interceptor Technology:  Develops technologies for a highly agile kill vehicle to defeat advanced maneuvering threats in their boost and terminal phases of flight.  Technology areas include improved seekers, propulsion, guidance, and kill enhancement using reactive materials, and advanced materials/structures.
  • Laser Technology:  Develops prototype hardware for the next generation state-of-the-art laser technology to improve weapons targeting and directed energy engagement.
  • Air Launched Concepts:  Develops technologies for air launched interceptors to defeat advanced maneuvering threats for early intercept of launching missiles and terminal threats.
  • Innovation Program:  Serves as the Missile Defense Agency’s primary focal point for soliciting new and innovative concepts from domestic industry and academic sources, as well as international organizations. Innovation also executes congressionally legislated science and technology efforts.
  • ·Technology Applications Program:  Assists researchers at universities, private companies, and government organizations in the commercialization of their technologies. This results in lower cost, commercial-off-the-shelf components that meet missile defense requirements