Missile Defense Agency

File:THAAD Launcher.jpg Anti-ballistic missile launcher]]

The MDA currently publishes the following mission statement:

{{quote|"The Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) mission is to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight."MDA (2019). Our Mission. Retrieved on 2019-12-21 from https://www.mda.mil/about/mission.html.}}

The National Defense Authorization Act is cited as the original source of the MDA's mission:

{{quote|"It is the policy of the United States to maintain and improve an effective, robust layered missile defense system capable of defending the territory of the United States, allies, deployed forces, and capabilities against the developing and increasingly complex ballistic missile threat with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and the annual appropriation of funds for National Missile Defense. National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 114–328)"}}

File:Arrow-3 Jan-03-2013 (c).jpg is an exoatmospheric hypersonic anti-ballistic missile, jointly funded, developed and produced by Israel and the United States.|alt=]]

Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) must be capable of operating in different regions of the world to ensure the success of the MDA mission. The International Strategy was approved by the MDA Director in 2007. The general strategy for international efforts is:{{cite web |url=http://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/2009MDAbook.pdf |title=Testing: Building Confidence |access-date=2009-12-23 |year=2009 |publisher=Missile Defense Agency }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

:Outreach: Communicate the importance of missile defense by promoting worldwide BMDS by sharing information with allies and partners.

:Capability and Interoperability: Identify and integrate U.S and partner systems to create global missile defense system. Promote interoperability among allies.

:Technology: Identify and evaluate possible international technology in support of BMDS capabilities.

:Investment: Identify and execute investment opportunities with allies and partners.

:Workforce: Shape a qualified workforce to execute the MDA International Strategy.

As of 2017 MDA was working on facilities in Germany, Romania, Poland, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.{{cite news |url=http://www.defenseworld.net/news/19373/New_US_Missile_Defence_Agency_Bases_To_Be_Constructed_Around_World |title=New US Missile Defence Agency Bases To Be Constructed Around World |date=24 May 2017 |website=www.defenseworld.net |publisher=Digitalwriters Media Pvt. Ltd. |access-date=25 May 2017}}

Ballistic missile systems using advanced liquid- or solid-propellant propulsion are becoming more mobile, accurate and capable of striking targets over longer distances and are proliferating worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://archive.defense.gov/bmdr/docs/BMDR%20as%20of%2026JAN10%200630_for%20web.pdf|title=Ballistic Missile Defense Review, 26 Jan 2010|website=defense.gov|access-date=22 December 2018|date=26 January 2010|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329160924/https://archive.defense.gov/bmdr/docs/BMDR%20as%20of%2026JAN10%200630_for%20web.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{rp|pp.18–19/61}}

• Iran currently has short- and medium- range missiles with guidance systems. Iran's launch of a medium range, solid fuel ballistic missile demonstrates its ability to hit targets in Israel and southern Europe.{{cite news |title=Iran tests longest range missiles |date=2009-09-28 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8278026.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date = 2009-12-23}} Iran also successfully launched the Safir Space Launch Vehicle on Feb 2, 2009. It was then speculated that development of an ICBM was not far behind. Intelligence reports that a missile could have been built sometime between 2010 and 2015 perhaps using help from Russian and North Korean technology.{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-10718:1 |title=Iran's Ballistic Missile Programs: An Overview |access-date=2009-12-23 |last=Hildreth |first=Steven A. |date=2008-07-21 |publisher=Congressional Research Service}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/iran-successfully-tests-space-launch-vehicle-state-tv-124220611.html|title=U.S. says Iran rocket test breaches U.N. resolution|website=yahoo.com|date=27 July 2017 |access-date=10 April 2018}} Iran also recently developed a hypersonic ballistic missile in 2022, which can move fifteen times the speed of sound and can reach U.S. and European targets, as well as the U.S. mainland, in 15 minutes.{{Cite web |last=Motamedi |first=Maziar |title=Iran has a hypersonic missile. What does that mean? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/6/7/iran-has-a-hypersonic-missile-what-does-that-mean |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
• North Korea currently deploys a Nodong ballistic missile capable of hitting Japan and South Korea, and is developing a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) which could reach Guam and the Aleutian Islands. They also successfully demonstrated the staging and separation technologies required to launch a Taepo-Dong 2 ICBM, which has the capability to reach the United States.{{cite news |title=North Korea's missile programme |date=2009-05-27 |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2564241.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2009-12-23}} The Taepodong missile was first tested in 2006, and failed 40 seconds into midflight. North Korean missiles are notoriously unreliable, and many of the DPRK's missile tests have failed, including the most recent Taepodong-2 launches in 2009 and 2012,{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/134856/The_100th_Missile_Defense_Brigade__A_decade_of_transformation_and_mission_success_/|title=The 100th Missile Defense Brigade: A decade of transformation and mission success.|website=army.mil|access-date=10 April 2018}} and a failed launch of the BM25 Musudan in 2016.[https://www.nknews.org/2016/06/on-north-koreas-failed-musudan-launch/ On North Korea’s failed Musudan launch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106193102/https://www.nknews.org/2016/06/on-north-koreas-failed-musudan-launch/ |date=2018-11-06 }} accessdate=2016-06-03 On 1 January 2017, North Korea announced its final preparation for a test of an ICBM, for the first time.[https://wwwjapan PM Abe: North Korea launched four ballistic missiles .nytimes.com/2017/01/01/world/asia/north-korea-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-test-kim-jong-un.html Choe Sang-Hun, (1 Jan 2017) "North Korea Will Test Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Kim Says" New York Times]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On 6 March 2017, North Korea launched four missiles from Tongchang-ri,[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-idUSKBN16C0YUJapan PM Abe: North Korea launched four ballistic missiles]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} accessdate=2017-03-05 a known long-range missile site at 7:36 a.m. local time, one of which landed in the Sea of Japan, with the remaining three missiles landing in Japan's economic zone.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/north-korea-launches-another-missile-perhaps-one-that-can-reach-us/2017/03/05/943010ee-96e2-4ff4-83aa-2fe09cd65831_story.html Washington Post North Korea launches another missile, perhaps one that can reach U.S.] accessdate=2017-03-05 On July 4, 2017 North Korea launched a ballistic missile that had the potential to be an ICBM. It flew through space and landed in the Sea of Japan. "The launch continues to demonstrate that North Korea poses a threat to the United States and our allies," a Pentagon statement said.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/04/politics/us-officials-meet-north-korea-missile-launch/index.html|title=As US, SK drill, Tillerson seeks action on NK|author=Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne|date=4 July 2017 |publisher=CNN|access-date=2017-07-06}}
• Syria has been identified as a host for short-range ballistic missiles (as it acquires equipment from North Korea and Iran).{{rp|p.19/61}}

MDA will be using multiple technologies to defend Guam.Ashley Roque [https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/missile-defense-agency-details-evolving-incremental-vision-for-guam-air-defenses/ (16 March 2023) Missile Defense Agency details evolving, ‘incremental’ vision for Guam air defenses] C2BMC; IBCS; LRDR, AN/TPY-6, LTAMDS, Sentinel Radars; Aegis Ashore in trailers, THAAD, IFPC Inc 2 using AIM-9X Sidewinder +2nd missile TBD;DoD [https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3328637/missile-defense-agency-officials-hold-a-press-briefing-on-president-bidens-fisc/ (14 Mar 2023) Missile Defense Agency Officials Hold a Press Briefing on President Biden's Fiscal 2024 Missile Defense Budget]Colin Demarest [https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/023/03/28/electronic-warfare-is-new-frontier-for-us-missile-defense-agency/ (28 Mar 2023) Electronic warfare is 'new frontier' for US Missile Defense Agency]{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} PPBE FY24: $10.9 billion; FY23: $9.6 billion; FY22: $8.9 billionMicah Hanks [https://thedebrief.org/breakthrough-ballistic-missile-intercept-demonstrated-by-u-s-missile-defense-agency-in-aegis-weapon-system-breakthrough-ballistic-missile-intercept-demonstrated-by-u-s-missile-defense-agency-in-aegis/ (3 Apr 2023) BREAKTHROUGH BALLISTIC MISSILE INTERCEPT DEMONSTRATED BY U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY IN AEGIS SYSTEM TEST] FTM-31Ea "first Aegis Baseline 9 Weapon System (9.C2.0, or BMD 5.1) intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile with the upgraded SM-6 Dual" salvo of Standard Missile-6 Dual IIs, also called 'RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile' ERAM

File:Patriot missile launch b.jpg surface-to-air missile (SAM) with anti-ballistic missile capabilities.]]

MDA divides its systems into four phases: boost; ascent; mid-course; and terminal. Each of these corresponds to a different phase of the threat ballistic missile flight regime. Each phase offers different advantages and disadvantages to a missile defense system (see missile defense classified by trajectory phase), and the geography of each defended area dictates the types of systems which can be employed. The resultant flexible and layered defense approach concept is believed to improve overall defense effectiveness. The more opportunities a system has to neutralize a threat (e.g., by shooting down a missile), the better the chance of success.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Activities have also been categorized as fulfilling the goals of one of five "blocks". For example, "block 4.0" was stated as "Defend Allies and Deployed Forces in Europe from Limited Iranian Long-Range Threats and Expand Protection of U.S. Homeland". It included the US missile defense complex in Poland to be constructed, and the European Mid-course Radar (EMR), currently located at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, which was to have been modified and relocated to the Czech Republic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/bmds.htm|title=Ballistic Missile Defense System|publisher=GlobalSecurity|access-date=2008-11-07}}{{Cite journal|title=The European missile defense folly|author=G. Lewis and T. Postol|date=May–June 2008|journal=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|page=33|doi=10.2968/064002009|volume=64|issue=2|bibcode=2008BuAtS..64b..32L}}

On 17 September 2009, the Obama administration scrapped the "block 4.0" plan, in favor of a new so-called "European Phased Adaptive Approach" (EPAA).{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/avc/rls/162447.htm|title=United States European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) and NATO Missile Defense|date=2011-05-03|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=2013-07-05}}

Can intercept all ranges of missiles, but the missile boost phase is only from one to five minutes. It is the best time to track the missile because it is bright and hot. The missile defense interceptors and sensors must be in close proximity to the launch, which is not always possible. This is the most desirable interception phase because it destroys the missile early in flight at its most vulnerable point and the debris will typically fall on the launching nations' territory.

This is the phase after powered flight but before the apogee. It is significantly less challenging than boost phase intercepts, less costly, minimizes the potential impact of debris, and reduces the number of interceptors required to defeat a raid of missiles.

This phase begins after the booster burns out and begins coasting in space. This can last as long as 20 minutes. Any debris remaining will burn up as it enters the atmosphere. Ground-based missile defense systems can defend from long-range and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in this phase. Mobile elements can defend against medium and short ranged missiles in midcourse.

This phase is the last chance to intercept the warhead. This contains the least-desirable Interception Point (IP) because there is little room for error and the interception will probably occur close to the defended target.

Research and development:

• Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) – In December 2003, MDA awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman for developing and testing. It will have to be launched from a location not too far from the launch site of the target missile (and is therefore less suitable against large countries), it has to be fired very soon after launch of the target, and it has to be very fast itself (6 km/s). In 2009, the Department of Defense and MDA determined the technological issues were excessive and cancelled the program, allocating no funding for it in its later budget submission.{{cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2010/dod/rdte-mda-interceptors.pdf |title=Kinetic Energy Interceptors Program Element 0603886C Budget Item Justification |date=May 2009}}
• Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) – Team ABL proposed and won the contract for this system in 1996. A high-energy laser mounted on a converted 747 airliner was used to intercept a test target in January 2010,[http://www.mda.mil/news/gallery_abl.html Airborne Laser (ABL) 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128055002/http://www.mda.mil/news/gallery_abl.html |date=2010-01-28 }}. US Missile Defense Agency, January 10, 2010. Retrieved: January 25, 2010. and the following month, successfully destroyed two test missiles.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1111660620100212?type=marketsNews|title=U.S. successfully tests airborne laser on missile|publisher=Reuters|date=Feb 12, 2010}} While the program has been cancelled due to concerns about its practicality with present technology (while successful the system was still extremely short ranged, likely needing to fly in heavily defended space to make an interception) the YAL-1 served to demonstrate the potential of such a system. The capabilities of being deployed rapidly to any part of the world and of intercepting a large number of missiles would make a future system extremely attractive. However, the entire concept was deemed infeasible and cancelled without successors in December 2011.{{cite web | url = http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/aircraft-pictures/boeing-yal-1-airborne-laser/ | title = Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser impacted by Pentagon spending priorities | work=Flight Image of the Day |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020012544/http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/aircraft-pictures/boeing-yal-1-airborne-laser/ |archive-date=October 20, 2013 }}
• Network Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE) – On September 18, 2008 Raytheon announced it had been awarded a $10 million contract to continue research and development of NCADE, a missile defense system based on the AIM-120 AMRAAM.{{cite web |url=http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?item=1080 |title=Raytheon Awarded $10 million to Develop New Missile Defense Interceptor |date=Sep 18, 2008 |publisher=Raytheon}}

One can distinguish disabling the warheads and just disabling the boosting capability. The latter has the risk of "shortfall": damage in countries between the launch site and the target location.

See also APS report.

Research and development:

• Ascent phase intercept (API) – Emerging intercept technologies are being developed and designed to defeat launched missiles in their ascent phase.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}} This phase is after the boost phase and prior to the threat missile's apogee (midcourse). The Ascent phase intercept program is still classified so there is little information on it.

In use:

• Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
• Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System (Aegis BMD)

Research and development:

• Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV, originally Miniature Kill Vehicle): the Department of Defense has canceled the MKV program for the time being.{{cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/comptroller/defbudget/fy2010/budget_justification/pdfs/03_RDT_and_E/Vol_2_MDA/PE-0603894C-MKV.pdf|title=President's Budget Submission for Program Element 0603894C |date=Apr 27, 2009}}

Research and development:

::This section included material from United States Army Futures Command

{{anchor|GPI}}By 2021, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) realized that it almost had a countermeasure to hypersonic boost-glide weapons, by using existing data on the adversary hypersonic systems which were gathered from existing US satellite and ground-based sensors.{{cite web

| first = Paul

| last = McLeary

| date = 18 Dec 2019

| url = https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/mda-kickstarts-new-way-to-kill-hypersonic-missiles/

| title = MDA Kickstarts New Way To Kill Hypersonic Missiles

}} HBTSS is 'Space sensor layer' MDA then fed this data into its existing systems models, and concluded that the adversary hypersonic weapon's glide phase offered the best chance for MDA to intercept it. MDA next proffered a request for information (RFI) from the defense community for building interceptors (denoted the GPI —glide phase interceptor) against the glide phase of that hypersonic weapon. GPIs would be guided by Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS).{{cite web

| first1 = John L.

| last1 = Dolan

| first2 = Richard K.

| last2 = Gallagher

| first3 = David L.

| last3 = Mann

| date = 23 April 2019

| url = https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2019/04/23/hypersonic_weapons__a_threat_to_national_security_114358.html

| title = Hypersonic Weapons – A Threat to National Security

}} Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS)

• {{cite web

| first = Kris

| last = Osborn

| date = 16 December 2019

| url = https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/air/pentagon-advances-new-technology-to-destroy-hypersonic-missile-attacks-oKccmcWHpkqQhBTN-RLtJg/

| title = Pentagon Advances New Technology to Destroy Hypersonic Missile Attacks

}} HBTSS will "establish a continuous 'track' on approaching hypersonic missiles"

• {{cite web

| first = Melanie

| last = Marlowe

| date = 8 April 2020

| url = https://www.c4isrnet.com/space/2020/04/08/three-obstacles-are-slowing-space-sensors-for-hypersonic-threats/

| title = Three obstacles are slowing space sensors for hypersonic threats

}} Continuous tracking is needed to maintain custody of a hypersonic threat before its disposition.

• {{cite web

| first = David

| last = Brennan

| date = 27 Jan 2021

| url = https://www.newsweek.com/pentagon-orders-hypersonic-missile-trackers-russia-china-arms-race-1564754

| title = Pentagon Orders Hypersonic Missile Trackers Amid Russia, China Arms Race

| website = Newsweek

}} HBTSS awards to L3Harris; Northrup Grumman{{cite web

| first = Theresa

| last = Hitchens

| date = 24 February 2020

| url = https://breakingdefense.com/2020/02/2021-budget-will-finally-fully-fund-next-gen-opir-says-roper/

| title = 2021 Budget Will Finally Fully Fund Next-Gen OPIR, Says Roper

}} Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) replacement: three satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) and two satellites in a polar orbit These GPI interceptors could first be offered to the Navy for Aegis to intercept using the C2BMC,{{cite web

| first = Jen

| last = Judson

| date = 20 Nov 2021

| url = https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2021/11/20/heres-the-three-companies-selected-to-design-hypersonic-missile-interceptors-for-mda/

| title = Here are the three companies selected to design hypersonic missile interceptors for MDA}} and later to the Army for THAAD to intercept using IBCS.{{cite web

| first = Jen

| last = Judson

| date = 13 Aug 2021

| url = https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/smd/2021/08/13/missile-defense-agency-dials-up-the-speed-in-quest-for-hypersonic-interceptor/

| title = Missile Defense Agency dials up the speed in quest for hypersonic interceptor

}}{{cite web

| first = Theresa

| last = Hitchens

| date = 12 Aug 2021

| url = https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/next-budget-will-limit-glide-phase-interceptor-contractors-mda-head/

| title = Next Budget Will Limit Glide Phase Interceptor Contractors: MDA Head

}} 2028 target date is being accelerated. FY2022 decisions on GPI/Ground-Based Interceptor, GBI replacement (the Next generation interceptor NGI) will be made by Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks. By 2024, a first test of the hypersonic tracking sensors was imminent.{{cite web

| first = Theresa

| last = Hitchens

| date = 6 Jun 2024

| url = https://breakingdefense.com/2024/06/first-test-of-space-based-hypersonic-tracking-sensors-within-a-week-mda-director-says/

| title = First test of space-based hypersonic tracking sensors 'within a week', MDA director says

}}

In use:

• Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
• PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
• Arrow missile, a joint effort between the U.S. and Israel

Research and development:

• Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), co-developmental program of the United States Department of Defense, Germany and Italy.

• Ground-Based Interceptor#Next generation interceptor (NGI)
• Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense
• United States Strategic Command
• US missile defense system in Asia-Pacific Region
• National Missile Defense

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.mda.mil Official website]

{{DOD agencies}}

{{United States Missile Defense}}

{{authority control}}

Category:United States Department of Defense agencies

Category:Government agencies established in 2002

Category:2002 establishments in the United States