// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Ballistic Missile Defense
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) is a system of sensors, command and control systems, and interceptor missiles designed to detect, track, and destroy attacking ballistic missiles. Its goal is to protect a specific area, whether a single military base or an entire country, from a missile attack.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) is a multi-layered military defense architecture comprising ground-based, sea-based, and space-based sensors and interceptors designed to counter ballistic missile threats. This system-of-systems performs threat detection, trajectory tracking, and kinetic kill interception of hostile Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and other ballistic projectiles during their boost, midcourse, or terminal phases of flight, utilizing technologies like Aegis, THAAD, and Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD).
BACKGROUND
The Aegis ballistic missile defense system, also known as Sea-Based Midcourse, is a Missile Defense Agency program under the United States Department of Defense developed to provide missile defense against short and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The program is part of the United States national missile defense strategy and European NATO missile defense system.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- anti-ballistic missile system
- ABM
- missile shield
- counter-missile defense
- layered defense
- hit-to-kill
- National Missile Defense
USAGE NOTE
The term is often used in strategic discussions about national security, deterrence, and the high cost and technical challenges of intercepting fast-moving targets.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Ballistic Missile Defense.
A research, development, and acquisition agency within the United States Department of Defense. Its mission is to develop, test, and field a layered, integrated ballistic missile defense system to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from ballistic missile attacks of all ranges in all phases of flight.
A major defense contractor and the prime contractor for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense systems. The company also produces the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile, a key interceptor component.
Through its Raytheon business, RTX develops and produces key components of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system, including the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors, the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, and critical radars like the AN/TPY-2.
The prime contractor for the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) system, the integrating element of the global Ballistic Missile Defense System. The company is also a key developer of interceptors and space-based sensor systems for tracking missile threats.
A prime contractor for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, the United States' primary defense against long-range ballistic missile attacks. Boeing leads the industry team for the development, integration, and sustainment of the GMD system.
An Israeli state-owned aerospace and defense company that, in partnership with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, developed the Arrow Weapon System (Arrow 2 and Arrow 3), a family of anti-ballistic missiles designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere.
A manufacturer of rocket and missile propulsion systems. The company provides critical propulsion technology for numerous missile defense interceptors, including the THAAD, Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), and the Ground-Based Interceptor for the GMD system.
A European multinational developer of missiles and missile systems. MBDA develops the Aster missile family (Aster 15 and Aster 30 Block 1), which provides naval and ground-based defense against various threats, including short-to-medium-range ballistic missiles.