| Thursday, December 04, 2008 |
 |
GMD
IOC: 2004
Total Program's Cost: USD$103 billion
GMD Block 2004
Production: 1
Also Known As
GMD Block 2006
GMDS
Ground Missile Defense
Origin
United States of America
Contractor/s
Boeing
Lockheed Martin
Northrop Grumman
Raytheon
Aircraft, Vehicles & Crafts:
BV+
DSP
PLV (20)
SBIRS-high
STSS
Sensors & Communications:
GMDS X-band radar
SBX
|
Description:
The Ground-based Midcourse Defense Segment (GMDS) is being designed to provide homeland defense to the United States against ballistic missiles. The GMD will destroy incoming ballistic missiles within a limited attack during their midcourse phase of flight.
The GMD consists of upgraded early warning radars, Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3) installations, X-band radar, SBIRS and current DSP satellite networks, and the PLV interceptor. The GMD also includes launch installations, interfaces and other support facilities.
The SBIRS and DSP satellites will provide early detection of ballistic missiles in the boost phase and in-flight track capability jointly with the upgraded early warning radars. The PLV will carry the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) to the engagement area with the reentry vehicle (ballistic missile) discriminating potential decoys and countermeasures. The data requested for such operation will be provided by the BMC3 and the X-band radar while supervising entirely the engagement.
The GMD advanced architecture allows to such a system to be deployed within 5 years if the United States authorities request that. The GMD system will be continuously improved by the program contractors in two-years Block upgrades while not requested for deployment.
In 2002, President George Walker Bush directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to field initial missile defense capabilities beginning in 2004. Up to 20 ground-based interceptors will be located at Fort Greely and Vandenberg Air Force Base defending the United States against long range ballistic missiles. Up to 20 Standard SM-3 missiles will be deployed by the US Navy in the same period providing defense against short and medium range ballistic missiles.
On 22 July 2004, the first GMD interceptor was emplaced into its underground silo at Fort Greely, Alaska. The first GMD interceptor was emplaced at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on December 10, 2004. Vandenberg will receive two GMD interceptors and 15 additional interceptors will join the first interceptor at Fort Greely before the end of 2005, totaling 18 interceptors.
The US Navy's sea-based missile defense and the GMD operated by the Northern Command might be cleared for operational use protecting America against a limited long-range ballistic missile attack in late 2005.
In December 2004, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded Boeing a cost-plus-award fee to undertake construction and non-construction efforts required to field the Ground Missile Defense (GMD) Block 2006 Enhanced Capability program. The funds allocated to this effort will be $928 million from fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2007.
|
|
Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Leave Feedback >>
|
|
Copyright © 2003 - 2008 deagel.com. All Rights Reserved.
United States of America / 1