Ground-Based Midcourse Defense
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In 2003, National Missile Defense (NMD) was changed to Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), to differentiate it from other missile defense programs, such as space-based and sea-based intercept programs, and defense targeting the boost phase and the reentry phase (see flight phases).
Raytheon develops a Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) which includes a booster missile and a kinetic Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV).
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is the Lead System Integrator of the program, tasked to oversee and integrate systems from other major defense sub-contractors. The key systems of the GMD system are:
- Ground Based Interceptor (GBI)
- Battle Management Command, Control and Communications (BMC3)
- Ground Based Radars (GBR)
- Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWR)
- Forward Based X-Band Radars (FBXB)
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Flight Test Results
GMD Integrated Flight Test(IFT) results :
- GMD IFT-1A (24 June 1997) was intended to allow GMD to assess a Boeing built EKV seeker, collect target (10 objects) phenomenological data, and evaluate (post-test) targetmodeling and discrimination algorithms. Boeing was not awarded the EKV contract as a result.
- GMD IFT-2 (16 Jan 1998) was intended to allow GMD to assess a Raytheon built EKV seeker, collect target (10 objects) phenomenological data, and evaluate (post-test) targetmodeling and discrimination algorithms. Raytheon was awarded the EKV contract as a result.
- GMD IFT-3 (2 Oct 1999) was intended as an element test of the EKV, not an end-to-end system test. The flight resulted in an intercept. At least one failure on the EKV forced the EKV into a backup acquisition mode.
- GMD IFT-4 (18 Jan 2000) was the first system end-to-end test. The Raytheon built EKV failed to detect the mock warhead. This resulted in a missed intercept. The failure to intercept is directly traceable to the cryogenic cooling system of the EKV, which failed to cool the IR sensors down to their operating temperatures in time because of an obstructed cooling line.
- GMD IFT-5 (8 Jul 2000) suffered a flight test failure. The Raytheon build EKV did not separate from the boost vehicle, a modified Minuteman ICBM. The failure was caused by a 1553B data bus failure in the booster, Lockheed Martin’s Multi-Service Launch System.
- GMD IFT-6 (14 Jul 2001) resulted in a successful intercept. This was the second end-to-end system test using NMD prototype elements.
- GMD IFT-7 (3 Dec 2001) resulted in a successful intercept. This test was a repeat of the IFT-6 test except that the target booster used Orbital’s Target Launch Vehicle instead of Lockheed Martin’s Multi-Service Launch System.
- GMD IFT-8 (15 Mar 2002) resulted in a successful intercept. The EKV was fed the location of the mock warhead to assist and tracking and intercept.
- GMD IFT-9 (14 Oct 2002) resulted in a successful intercept. This was the first IFT to use the Aegis SPY-1 radar for GMD. The mock warhead contained a C-band transponded for early flight trajectory and location data.
- GMD IFT-10 (11 Dec 2002) suffered a flight test failure. The Raytheon build EKV did not separate from the boost vehicle, a modified Minuteman ICBM. The failure was caused an activator pin which broke and did not activate a laser which was to release the EKV.
- GMD IFT-11 (Cancelled) Test cancelled along with 9 of 20 tested in the next 5 years to move up deployment scheduled as requested by the president.
- GMD IFT-12 (Cancelled)
- GMD IFT-13 (Cancelled)
- GMD IFT-13A (Delayed) Lockheed Martin’s test, IFT-13A, has been indefinitely delayed due to explosions at its rocket fuel mixing plant in the summer and fall of 2003. Right now, MDA is planning on using only the Orbital version in its initial deployment but may use the Lockheed Martin rocket for later deployments.
- GMD IFT-13B (26 Jan 2004) was a successful system level test using the new Orbital Sciences booster flying out of the Kwajalein atoll and a fly-by of the target launched from Vendenburg AFB in California.
- GMD IFT-13C (15 Dec 2004) suffered a flight test failure. This test involved an interceptor using the new Orbital Sciences booster flying out of Kwajalein and an attempt to hit a target coming out of Kodiak, Alaska. While the target flew as planned, the booster failed to leave the ground. Failure blamed on a 1553b data bus which is regarded by some as being incapable of processing messages at a rate that is fast enough for the GMD system to work effectively.
- GMD IFT-14 (13 Feb 2005) suffered a flight test failure. This test involved an interceptor using the new Orbital Sciences booster flying out of Kwajalein and an attempt to hit a target coming out of Kodiak, Alaska. While the target flew as planned, the booster failed to leave the ground due to a fault in the arms which hold the missile in the silo. The arms failed to fully retract and the launch was automatically aborted.
- GMD IFT-15 (13 Dec 2005) was a successful flight test. The interceptor missile was launched from the Ronald Reagan test site, located on the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
- Additional GMD IFT events IFT-16 to IFT-30 are scheduled out through Fall of 2008. Those tests are followed by FTG tests through the 4th quarter of 2011.
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