Ground-Based Interceptor

This interceptor is made up of a boost vehicle, constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and an Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), built by Raytheon. Integration of these is performed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security.{{cite web |url=http://www.orbital.com/launchsystems/publications/gmd_factsheet.pdf |title=Fact sheet: GMD Boost Vehicle |publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation }}

The three-stage Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV)Orbital Sciences Ground-based interceptor (GBI) [https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/gbi.htm (2002) Orbital Boost Vehicle ](OBV) uses the solid-fuel rocket upper stages of the Taurus launcher.{{cite web

|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/orbital-pegasus-launch-iris-spacecraft/

|title=Orbital's Pegasus XL successfully lofts IRIS spacecraft

|publisher=NASA

|author=William Graham

|date=27 June 2013

|quote=The Orbital Boost Vehicle, developed for the US military’s Ground Based Interceptor program, uses the upper stages of the Taurus}} The interceptor version deployed in the U.S. has three stages. A two-stage version was successfully tested in 2010 for use in Europe's NATO missile defence as a backup option to the preferred Aegis System Standard Missile 3.{{cite news |author=Turner Brinton |url=http://spacenews.com/two-stage-interceptor-missile-succeeds-first-flight-test/ |title=Two-Stage Interceptor Missile Succeeds in First Flight Test |date=June 7, 2010 |publisher=Space News |access-date=February 8, 2015}}

A total of 64 interceptors are planned:[https://www.army.mil/article/217689/dod_official_describes_missile_defense_strategy David Vergun, Defense.gov (February 22, 2019) DOD official describes missile defense strategy] 30 interceptors were deployed at the end of 2010 at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California,{{cite web |url=https://mda.mil/system/gmd.html |title=MDA - Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) |publisher=Mda.mil |date= |accessdate=2022-08-28 |archive-date=2022-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806115905/https://www.mda.mil/system/gmd.html |url-status=dead }} with 14 additional missiles deployed by 2017, and 20 more GBIs planned.

Since 2006, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted seven intercept tests with the operationally configured missile, the most recent four of which were successful.MDA [https://mda.mil/system/testing.html Testing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209183336/https://mda.mil/system/testing.html |date=2022-12-09 }}: [https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testprogram.pdf Test Program pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608050201/https://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testprogram.pdf |date=2023-06-08 }} note URL–https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testrecord.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208103424/https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testrecord.pdf |date=2021-12-08 }} is a 404. [https://mda.mil/news/public_statements_archive.html Archive of public statements by year: read from pull-down menu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209183342/https://mda.mil/news/public_statements_archive.html |date=2022-12-09 }}[https://www.army.mil/article/219788/national_guard_soldiers_at_forefront_of_most_significant_test_in_missile_defense_history Staff Sgt. Zachary Sheely (April 5, 2019) National Guard Soldiers at forefront of most significant test in missile defense history]

The FY2021 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which was released 3 December 2020) has mandated that the Missile Defense Agency commence development of 20 interim GBIs.Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/12/03/congress-directs-dod-to-build-interim-homeland-missile-defense-interceptor/ (3 December 2020) Congress directs DoD to build interim homeland missile defense interceptor] {{anchor|rkvRequirements}}The interim GBIs are to meet the requirements for the Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV —canceled 21 August 2019),{{efn|name= rkvCancelled|1= The Missile Defense Agency cancelled the $5.8 billion contract for the Redesigned kill vehicle (RKV) on 21 Aug 2019.Paul McCleary {{citation |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2019/08/pentagon-cancels-multi-billion-boeing-missile-defense-program/ |date=21 August 2019 |title= Pentagon Cancels Multi-Billion $ Boeing Missile Defense Program |publisher=breakingdefense.com}}Theresa Hitchens [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/lawmakers-question-r-pump-mda-funding/ (17 December 2019) Lawmakers Question R&E Oversight; Pump MDA Funding] RKV cancellation is prompting a National Defense Authorization Act mandate for a federally funded R&D center (Federally funded research and development centers - FFRDC) study, whether to move the oversight of MDA

• Theresa Hitchens [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/hill-to-griffin-no-moving-the-sco-shifts-it-to-depsecdef-norquist/ (17 December 2019) Hill To Griffin: No Moving The SCO; Shifts It to DepSecDef Norquist] Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO)Paul McCleary [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/09/pentagon-issues-classified-rfp-for-new-missile-interceptor/ (6 September 2019) Pentagon Issues Classified RFP For New Missile Interceptor] No Refund of Monies expected. Rework is To Be Determined These citations stem from the US Army Futures Command article.}} at minimum: {{rp|see attached video}}
• Vehicle-to-vehicle communications
• Ability to assess kills, and counter counter-measures
• Producible
• Use mature technology, with the ability to integrate with non-GBIs (see below)

The interim GBIs are to be completely fielded by 2026, according to the FY2021 NDAA.

On 1 August 2022, the Missile Defense Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to upgrade the GMD Weapon System (GWS) to modernize code for the Ground-based interceptors (GBIs) hardware (by 2026),Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/23/canceled-missile-defense-warheads-cost-tripled-schedule-slipped-despite-numerous-warnings-gao-finds/ (23 Jul 2022) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds] "The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its version [of] the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, wants 20 interim interceptors fielded by 2026".Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/08/01/northrop-wins-3-billion-contract-to-manage-us-homeland-missile-defense-systems/ (1 Aug 2022) Northrop wins $3 billion contract to manage US homeland missile defense systems] as their successor Next generation interceptors (NGIs) are made available (on or before 2026). The software upgrades allow the GBIs new capabilities to complement the NGIs.Naval News Staff [https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/11/hypersonic-missiles-evolution-or-revolution/ (1 Nov 2022) Hypersonic Missiles: Evolution Or Revolution? ] summary overviewAndrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/northrop-grumman-wins-3-3-billion-homeland-ballistic-missile-defense-contract/ (1 Aug 2022) Northrop Grumman wins $3.3 billion homeland ballistic missile defense contract] On 31 August 2022, the MDA awarded Boeing a GMD contract for attendant system integration, test and readiness (SITR) work.ANDREW EVERSDEN

[https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/boeing-wins-5-billion-contract-for-ballistic-missile-defense-integration/ (31 Aug 2022) Boeing wins $5 billion contract for ballistic missile defense integration] Award is for $506.7 million up to 2027

The Missile Defense Agency leads the development of anti-ballistic missiles for North America. The Next Generation Interceptor (NGI)[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgjMka8FMA Association of the United States Army (AUSA) (12 Mar 2020) Army SMD Hot Topic 2020 - VADM Jon Hill - Dir, Missile Defense Agency]{{rp|4:13}} is a MDA program to upgrade the kill vehicles for the ground-based interceptors, with different vendors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competing.[https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2021/03/23/heres-who-will-compete-head-to-head-to-build-the-next-homeland-missile-defense-interceptor/ Jen Judson (23 Mar 2021) Here’s who will compete head-to-head to build the next homeland missile defense interceptor] They are tasked with meeting more complex threats than those met by the EKV. There will be more near-term technology improvement to the GBI during a longer-term process for NGI to meet more complex threats.[https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/big-new-missile-defense-contract-comes-as-part-of-larger-defensive-push/ Paul McCleary (24 Mar 2021) Big New Interceptor Deal Part Of Biden Missile Defense Push] The NGIs are to be fielded by 2027 or 2028.

The Pentagon's Office of Cost and Program Evaluation (CAPE) estimated on April 29, 2021, that it would cost $17.7 billion to develop, deploy, and maintain the next-generation interceptor (NGI). This includes billions to build a total of 21 NGIs, each costing at least $74 million, and maybe more, depending on the exact allocation of funding for the program. As part of the first phase, the Missile Defense Agency allocated $7.6 billion in contract money to Northrop Grumman (in partnership with Raytheon) and Lockheed Martin to upgrade aging ground-based interceptors (GBIs).[https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2021/04/29/pentagon-may-spend-177-billion-to-deploy-just-21--nuke-killing-missiles/?sh=4a577a8b3cba Sebastien Roblin (29 April 2021) Pentagon May Spend $17.7 Billion To Deploy Just 21 Nuke-Killing Missiles]

On 12 September 2021 a test of the GBI, which is designed to use a three-stage booster, successfully met its goal of operating as a two-stage booster for an EKV.[https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/us-successfully-tests-new-homeland-missile-defense-capability/ Aaron Mehta (12 Sep 2021) US Successfully Tests New Homeland Missile Defense Capability] MDA's "2-/3-Stage selectable GBI"[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/23/canceled-missile-defense-warheads-cost-tripled-schedule-slipped-despite-numerous-warnings-gao-finds/ Jen Judson (23 Jul 2020) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds]

{{blockquote|Think of it as just telling the third stage not to fire, which allows the kill vehicle to open its eyes, unbuckle its seatbelt, and get to work that much sooner. It trades the speed that the third stage would add for time. And that translates to flexibility.—Tom Karako}}

{{anchor|intercept}}The tracking sensors and computers (whether they be C2BMC, or IBCS, etc.), which follow the parabolic trajectories of the ballistic missile, count down the time to go needed before impact of the interceptor's kill vehicle with the targeted ballistic missile. When the tracking sensors and computers determine there is enough time to kill the ballistic missile without using the third booster stage, the kill vehicle can maneuver using its thrusters to hit the targeted ballistic missile without the third stage. This increases the probability of kill, for the kill vehicle, which can instead more closely follow the targeted missile, rather than its projected parabolic trajectory.

As described, the NGI is being engineered to handle more complex situations to be able to hit maneuverable targets.

On 11 December 2023 a two-stage GBI intercepted an IRBM for the first time, using integrated sensor data from the RTX AN/TPY-2 in forward-based mode, and from the Sea-based X-band radar.[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/12/11/homeland-defense-interceptor-defeats-ballistic-missile-in-test/ Homeland defense interceptor defeats ballistic missile in test], Jen Judson, Defense News, 2023-12-12

On 15 April 2024, Lockheed Martin was selected over Northrop Grumman and awarded a $17 billion contract to develop the Next Generation Interceptor.{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Mike |title=Lockheed wins US missile defense contract worth $17 bln |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheed-wins-us-missile-defense-contract-worth-17-bln-sources-say-2024-04-15/ |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Reuters |date=15 April 2024}}{{cite news |last=Marrow |first=Michael |title=Lockheed wins competition to build next-gen interceptor |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/lockheed-wins-competition-to-build-next-gen-interceptor/ |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Breaking Defense |date=15 April 2024}}{{cite news |title=U.S. Missile Defense Agency selects Lockheed Martin to provide its Next Generation Interceptor |url=https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-04-15-U-S-Missile-Defense-Agency-selects-Lockheed-Martin-to-provide-its-Next-Generation-Interceptor |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Lockheed Martin |date=15 April 2024}}

{{noteslist}}

• Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100302011715/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=5769 Missile Defense Agency Booster Rocket Program]
• [https://missilethreat.csis.org/defsys/gbi/ Ground-based Interceptor | Missilethreat.csis.org]

{{US missiles|state=collapsed}}

Category:Anti-ballistic missiles of the United States

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Category:Solid-fuel rockets

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2000s