Ground-Based Interceptor

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.

The three-stage Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV)Orbital Sciences Ground-based interceptor (GBI
(2002) Orbital Boost Vehicle
OBV) uses the solid-fuel rocket upper stages of the Taurus launcher. 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.

A total of 64 interceptors are planned: 30 interceptors were deployed at the end of 2010 at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, 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.MD
Testing

Test Program pdf
note URL–https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testrecord.pdf is a 404

Staff Sgt. Zachary Sheely (April 5, 2019) National Guard Soldiers at forefront of most significant test in missile defense history
/ref>

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.Jen Judso
(3 December 2020) Congress directs DoD to build interim homeland missile defense interceptor
/ref> The interim GBIs are to meet the requirements for the Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV —canceled 21 August 2019), at minimum:
*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.

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),Jen Judso
(23 Jul 2022) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds
"The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its version fthe fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, wants 20 interim interceptors fielded by 2026".Jen Judson
(1 Aug 2022) Northrop wins $3 billion contract to manage US homeland missile defense systems
/ref> 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.Naval News Staf
(1 Nov 2022) Hypersonic Missiles: Evolution Or Revolution?
summary overviewAndrew Eversde
(1 Aug 2022) Northrop Grumman wins $3.3 billion homeland ballistic missile defense contract
/ref> On 31 August 2022, the MDA awarded Boeing a GMD contract for attendant system integration, test and readiness (SITR) work.ANDREW EVERSDEN
(31 Aug 2022) Boeing wins $5 billion contract for ballistic missile defense integration
Award is for $506.7 million up to 2027

Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program

The Missile Defense Agency leads the development of anti-ballistic missiles for North America. The Next Generation Interceptor (NGI)Association of the United States Army (AUSA) (12 Mar 2020) Army SMD Hot Topic 2020 - VADM Jon Hill - Dir, Missile Defense Agency
/ref> is a MDA program to upgrade the kill vehicles for the ground-based interceptors, with different vendors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competing. Jen Judson (23 Mar 2021) Here’s who will compete head-to-head to build the next homeland missile defense interceptor
/ref> They are tasked with meeting more complex threats than those met by the EKV. There will be more near-term technology improvement to the GBI during a longer-term process for NGI to meet more complex threats.Paul McCleary (24 Mar 2021) Big New Interceptor Deal Part Of Biden Missile Defense Push
/ref> The NGIs are to be fielded by 2027 or 2028.

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).

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.Aaron Mehta (12 Sep 2021) US Successfully Tests New Homeland Missile Defense Capability
MDA's "2-/3-Stage selectable GBI"Jen Judson (23 Jul 2020) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds
/ref>

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. 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.

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.Homeland defense interceptor defeats ballistic missile in test
Jen Judson, Defense News, 2023-12-12

On 15 April 2024, Lockheed Martin was selected over Northrop Grumman and awarded a $17 billion contract to develop the Next Generation Interceptor.

Notes

See also

* Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems

References

External links

Missile Defense Agency Booster Rocket ProgramGround-based Interceptor , Missilethreat.csis.org

{{US missiles, state=collapsed

Anti-ballistic missiles of the United States
Military in Alaska
Solid-fuel rockets
Military equipment introduced in the 2000s