From the Editors
U.S. ballistic missile defense efforts have received significant attention in recent months, particularly with regard to the overseas deployment of interceptors. But while the media attention may be new, the underlying issues are not. Since the beginning of the Space Age, the United States has pursued numerous ballistic missile defense initiatives—and throughout, The Aerospace Corporation has served as a trusted technical advisor, evaluating threats and assessing defensive measures.
What is new is the way that previously independent elements, ranging from forward radars to infrared satellites, are being integrated to form the comprehensive Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Many of these elements are the legacies of programs—for example, Brilliant Eyes—that have evolved over the course of many years or even decades, adapting, sometimes radically, to new technologies, funding priorities, and perceived threat environments. Throughout this evolution, Aerospace has worked alongside the U.S. government, and continues to work closely with the Missile Defense Agency as it develops, tests, and implements the various system components.
In fielding this complex system, the Department of Defense has adopted a pragmatic acquisition plan. Spiral development in two-year blocks allows for an iterative process whereby older elements can be combined and eventually replaced with newer ones in an increasingly integrated system. Procurement is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate advances in technology, refinements in threat models, and changes in warfighter needs.
The BMDS is a layered system designed to engage and intercept missiles in all phases of flight—boost, ascent, midcourse, and terminal. For example, the Airborne Laser is designed to autonomously detect, track, and destroy ballistic missiles in their boost phase. Various satellite assets will not only detect missile launches but track the vehicles as they travel through space. A variety of sea- and land-based radars will detect and follow a missile's trajectory, cueing the appropriate interceptors. A command and control, battle management, and communications system ties it all together, alerting U.S. command centers worldwide as events unfold.
Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes functions such as threat modeling and intelligence gathering are essential to ensuring that the system will remain focused on the right threats and will handle them in the right way.
Aerospace is also involved in testing the elements of the BMDS, especially as they are integrated into the overall system. The corporation's expertise in systems-of-systems engineering is also relied upon to bring the BMDS together. Earlier this year, the Missile Defense Agency began moving its offices to Huntsville, Alabama, and Aerospace also opened offices there to enhance collaboration.
Today, as always, missile defense presents some of the more intriguing technical challenges. This issue of Crosslink takes a close look at The Aerospace Corporation's work in helping the Missile Defense Agency gradually and systematically bring the BMDS to full operational capability.
