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How
Missile Defense Works
At present, only a few countries possess missiles that can strike the U.S., but the possibility that this number will increase cannot be ignored. Today, technology is spreading around the world at an astonishing rate, including technology dealing with ballistic missile development and, more ominously, with weapons of mass destruction. Complementing this growing technological capability is the continuing intent among some regimes to harm the international system, particularly the U.S. and its allies. Furthermore, it is impossible to predict whether traditional notions of deterrence will operate under future conditions. The need for flexibility in Defense Programs is not new. Since the 1970s, changes in defense missions and in the systems designed to implement them have occurred every few years. The evolution of the program through the last four changes (from 1987 to 1999) has changed NMD missions from a deterrence enhancing role against a massive threat, requiring large numbers of defense interceptors, to a protection role against small numbers of threats. In 1996, the Department of Defense (DoD) established NMD as a Major Defense Acquisition and Deployment Readiness Program. To execute the program, BMDO established the NMD Joint Program Office (JPO) in 1997. With significant Army, Air Force and BMDO material contributions, the goal of the JPO is to integrate the various elements into a cost effective and operationally sound system designed to protect all 50 states from a ballistic missile attack. How Will the MD System Work? All elements of the MD system will work together to respond to a limited ballistic missile attack directed against the United States. The U.S. Early Warning System, consisting of Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites, and its follow-on capability, the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites, will detect the launch of enemy missiles and then track these missiles while simultaneously gathering critical data. After confirmation, this information will be passed to the Battle Management/ Command, Control, and Communications (BM/C3) system while ground-based radars acquire and track the incoming missile. This information will then be used to make an engagement decision. When defense engagement authority is granted, one or more interceptors will be launched on command to engage the threat. The BM/C3 system will continue to process radar and other system data in order to provide more information to the interceptor so it, in turn, can better discriminate between debris, false objects (penetration aids), and real warheads. The interceptor will use its on-board sensor to acquire the threat, select the target warhead, and guide itself to a direct, high-speed collision using on-board computers and divert propulsion systems. During and after the engagement, the radars continue to collect data and observe the intercept results in order to provide “kill assessment” information which evaluates the interceptor’s success or failure. Elements of the
MD System |
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he
U.S. traditionally has relied on the wide expanses of
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to keep our homeland
at arms length from the turmoil of global conflict. However,
the proliferation of long range ballistic missiles and
weapons of mass destruction to third world countries
may negate much of this advantage and possibly deliver
a serious blow to the national security of the United
States.
