Ground-Based Interceptor
A Ground-Based Interceptor loaded into a silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, in July 2004
TypeAnti-ballistic missile
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnited States Army
Production history
ManufacturerOrbital Sciences Corporation, Raytheon, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Specifications
Mass21,600 kilograms (47,600 lb)[1]
Length16.61 metres (54.5 ft)[1]
Diameter1.28 metres (4.2 ft)[1]
WarheadExoatmospheric Kill Vehicle
EngineSolid-fuel booster, liquid-fuel vehicle[2]
Guidance
system
Inertial + imaging infrared
Launch
platform
Silo

The Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) is the anti-ballistic missile component of the United States' Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system.

Description

This interceptor is made up of a boost vehicle, constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and an Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), built by Raytheon. Integration of these is performed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security.[3]

The three-stage Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV)[4] uses the solid-fuel rocket upper stages of the Taurus launcher.[5] The interceptor version deployed in the U.S. has three stages. A two-stage version was successfully tested in 2010 for use in Europe's NATO missile defence as a backup option to the preferred Aegis System Standard Missile 3.[6]

A total of 64 interceptors are planned:[7] 30 interceptors were deployed at the end of 2010 at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California,[8] with 14 additional missiles deployed by 2017, and 20 more GBIs planned.

Since 2006, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted seven intercept tests with the operationally configured missile, the most recent four of which were successful.[9][10][11]

The FY2021 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which was released 3 December 2020) has mandated that the Missile Defense Agency commence development of 20 interim GBIs.[12] The interim GBIs are to meet the requirements for the Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV —canceled 21 August 2019),[lower-alpha 1] at minimum: [12]: see attached video 

  • Vehicle-to-vehicle communications
  • Ability to assess kills, and counter counter-measures
  • Producible
  • Use mature technology, with the ability to integrate with non-GBIs (see below)

The interim GBIs are to be completely fielded by 2026, according to the FY2021 NDAA.[12]

On 1 August 2022, the Missile Defense Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to upgrade the GMD Weapon System (GWS) to modernize code for the Ground-based interceptors (GBIs) hardware (by 2026),[16][17] as their successor Next generation interceptors (NGIs) are made available (on or before 2026). The software upgrades allow the GBIs new capabilities to complement the NGIs.[12][18][19] On 31 August 2022, the MDA awarded Boeing a GMD contract for attendant system integration, test and readiness (SITR) work.[20]

Next generation interceptor (NGI)

The Missile Defense Agency leads the development of anti-ballistic missiles for North America. The Next Generation Interceptor (NGI)[21]: 4:13  is a MDA program to upgrade the kill vehicles for the ground-based interceptors, with different vendors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competing.[22] They are tasked with meeting more complex threats than those met by the EKV.[22] There will be more near-term technology improvement to the GBI during a longer-term process for NGI to meet more complex threats.[23] The NGIs are to be fielded by 2027 or 2028.[22]

The Pentagon's Office of Cost and Program Evaluation (CAPE) estimated on April 29, 2021, that it would cost $17.7 billion to develop, deploy, and maintain the next-generation interceptor (NGI). This includes billions to build a total of 21 NGIs, each costing at least $74 million, and maybe more, depending on the exact allocation of funding for the program. As part of the first phase, the Missile Defense Agency allocated $7.6 billion in contract money to Northrop Grumman (in partnership with Raytheon) and Lockheed Martin to upgrade aging ground-based interceptors (GBIs).[24]

On 12 September 2021 a test of the GBI, which is designed to use a three-stage booster, successfully met its goal of operating as a two-stage booster for an EKV.[25][11]

Think of it as just telling the third stage not to fire, which allows the kill vehicle to open its eyes, unbuckle its seatbelt, and get to work that much sooner. It trades the speed that the third stage would add for time. And that translates to flexibility.—Tom Karako[25]

The tracking sensors and computers (whether they be C2BMC, or IBCS, etc.), which follow the parabolic trajectories of the ballistic missile, count down the time to go needed before impact of the interceptor's kill vehicle with the targeted ballistic missile. When the tracking sensors and computers determine there is enough time to kill the ballistic missile without using the third booster stage, the kill vehicle can maneuver using its thrusters to hit the targeted ballistic missile without the third stage.[25] This increases the probability of kill, for the kill vehicle, which can instead more closely follow the targeted missile, rather than its projected parabolic trajectory.

As described, the NGI is being engineered to handle more complex situations to be able to hit maneuverable targets.[18]

On 11 December 2023 a two-stage GBI intercepted an IRBM for the first time, using integrated sensor data from the RTX AN/TPY-2 in forward-based mode, and from the Sea-based X-band radar.[26]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Missile Defense Agency cancelled the $5.8 billion contract for the Redesigned kill vehicle (RKV) on 21 Aug 2019.[13][14][15] These citations stem from the US Army Futures Command article.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jim O'Halloran (15 January 2014). Jane's Weapons 2014/2015: Strategic (PDF). Jane's Information Group. p. 243. ISBN 978-0710631077.
  2. ↑ "Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System | L3Harris® Fast. Forward". www.l3harris.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023. Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, supplies the liquid propellant Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) that maneuvers the Raytheon-built EKV …
  3. ↑ "Fact sheet: GMD Boost Vehicle" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation.
  4. ↑ Orbital Sciences Ground-based interceptor (GBI) (2002) Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV)
  5. ↑ William Graham (27 June 2013). "Orbital's Pegasus XL successfully lofts IRIS spacecraft". NASA. The Orbital Boost Vehicle, developed for the US military's Ground Based Interceptor program, uses the upper stages of the Taurus
  6. ↑ Turner Brinton (June 7, 2010). "Two-Stage Interceptor Missile Succeeds in First Flight Test". Space News. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ David Vergun, Defense.gov (February 22, 2019) DOD official describes missile defense strategy
  8. ↑ "MDA - Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)". Mda.mil. Archived from the original on 2022-08-06. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  9. ↑ MDA Testing Archived 2022-12-09 at the Wayback Machine: Test Program pdf Archived 2023-06-08 at the Wayback Machine note URL–https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testrecord.pdf Archived 2021-12-08 at the Wayback Machine is a 404. Archive of public statements by year: read from pull-down menu
  10. ↑ Staff Sgt. Zachary Sheely (April 5, 2019) National Guard Soldiers at forefront of most significant test in missile defense history
  11. 1 2 Jen Judson (23 Jul 2020) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds
  12. 1 2 3 4 Jen Judson (3 December 2020) Congress directs DoD to build interim homeland missile defense interceptor
  13. ↑ Paul McCleary Pentagon Cancels Multi-Billion $ Boeing Missile Defense Program, breakingdefense.com, 21 August 2019
  14. ↑ Theresa Hitchens (17 December 2019) Lawmakers Question R&E Oversight; Pump MDA Funding RKV cancellation is prompting a National Defense Authorization Act mandate for a federally funded R&D center (Federally funded research and development centers - FFRDC) study, whether to move the oversight of MDA
  15. ↑ Paul McCleary (6 September 2019) Pentagon Issues Classified RFP For New Missile Interceptor No Refund of Monies expected. Rework is To Be Determined
  16. ↑ Jen Judson (23 Jul 2022) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds "The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its version [of] the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, wants 20 interim interceptors fielded by 2026".
  17. ↑ Jen Judson (1 Aug 2022) Northrop wins $3 billion contract to manage US homeland missile defense systems
  18. 1 2 Naval News Staff (1 Nov 2022) Hypersonic Missiles: Evolution Or Revolution? summary overview
  19. ↑ Andrew Eversden (1 Aug 2022) Northrop Grumman wins $3.3 billion homeland ballistic missile defense contract
  20. ↑ ANDREW EVERSDEN (31 Aug 2022) Boeing wins $5 billion contract for ballistic missile defense integration Award is for $506.7 million up to 2027
  21. ↑ Association of the United States Army (AUSA) (12 Mar 2020) Army SMD Hot Topic 2020 - VADM Jon Hill - Dir, Missile Defense Agency
  22. 1 2 3 Jen Judson (23 Mar 2021) Here’s who will compete head-to-head to build the next homeland missile defense interceptor
  23. ↑ Paul McCleary (24 Mar 2021) Big New Interceptor Deal Part Of Biden Missile Defense Push
  24. ↑ Sebastien Roblin (29 April 2021) Pentagon May Spend $17.7 Billion To Deploy Just 21 Nuke-Killing Missiles
  25. 1 2 3 Aaron Mehta (12 Sep 2021) US Successfully Tests New Homeland Missile Defense Capability MDA's "2-/3-Stage selectable GBI"
  26. ↑ Homeland defense interceptor defeats ballistic missile in test, Jen Judson, Defense News, 2023-12-12
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