Missile Defense Agency

Elements

Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)

Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) is one element of the Ballistic
Missile Defense System. It provides Combatant Commanders the
capability to engage and destroy intermediate- and long-range ballistic
missile threats in the midcourse battle space to protect the US Homeland
from rogue nations and accidental launches.

Overview

• Employs communications systems, fire control capabilities and
  Ground-based Interceptors that are capable of detecting, tracking
  and destroying ballistic missile threats by utilizing multiple
  sensors.
  
• The Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle uses the kinetic energy from a direct hit to destroy the incoming target. It is a
  sensor-propulsion package that collides with the target at a closing speed of approximately 15,000 miles per hour.
  This “hit-to-kill” technology has been proven in a number of successful flight tests, including three using Ground
  Based Interceptors.
  

Details

Ground-based Midcourse Defense is composed of two main components: ground-based interceptors, and ground systems.

• Ground-based Interceptor:is a three-stage, solid fuel booster with an Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle. When launched, the booster missile carries the kill vehicle toward the target’s predicted location in space. Once released from the booster, the 230-pound Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle uses data received in-flight from ground-based radars and its own on-board sensors to close with and destroy the target warhead well outside Earth’s atmosphere using only the kinetic force of the direct collision to destroy the target warhead.
• Ground Systems is the backbone of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense element. Ground Systems’ components include the interceptor launch facilities and connect all hardware, software and communications systems necessary for planning, directing and controlling the Ground-based Midcourse Defense element.

Development

• Interceptor missiles are emplaced at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. A total of 30 interceptors are planned for deployment at Fort Greely and Vandenberg by the end of 2010.
  
• All Ground Systems components communicate through the GMD communications network, a secure data and voice communications system. Fire control, battle management, planning, tasking and threat analysis takes place via a dual-node, human-in-control interface located in Fort Greely, Alaska and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Warfighters of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at Fort Greely, Alaska and of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade at Colorado Springs, Colorado operate the system.

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