The Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) is the United States’ homeland missile defense system, designed to protect all 50 states from a limited long-range ballistic missile attack. A global system, GMD and its associated elements span 15 time zones. These elements include Ground-based Interceptors (GBIs) at two locations: Ft. Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg AFB, CA. GMD integrates...| Missile Threat
The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, is the sea-based component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). It uses the SPY-1 radar and variants of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Standard Missile-6 to intercept ballistic missiles during midcourse or terminal phases of flight. The system is integrated on certain U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class Cruisers (CG) and Arleigh Burke-class...| Missile Threat
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a transportable system that intercepts ballistic missiles during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. It incorporates an X-band radar, the AN/TPY-2, and a single-stage, hit-to-kill interceptor to defeat ballistic missiles inside or outside of the atmosphere. THAAD occupies a middle tier in the United States’ Ballistic Missile Defense...| Missile Threat