The Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system built by Boeing successfully intercepted a threat representative of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), demonstrating the system’s ability to detect, engage and destroy targets and validating its technological advances.
According to Boeing the target was launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean and the interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Boeing has been the prime contractor for GMD since 2001 and works with an industry team to incorporate improvements.
Speaking on the development, the Vice President and GMD programme Director, Norm Tew said, “This successful test keeps the United States on track for a significant increase in interceptor inventory of 44 in 2017. In addition, the GMD programme remains on track to evolve and modernise this crucial national defence asset in the face of an evolving threat environment, with system upgrades and future technology including the Boeing-led Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV).”
GMD is an integral element of the United States’ layered ballistic missile defence architecture, with interceptors at Vandenberg Air Force Base and Fort Greely, Alaska.
The programme comprises command-and-control facilities, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile fiber-optic communications network that interfaces with ballistic missile defence radars and other.
