The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is an exo-atmospheric missile defense interceptor used for theater ballistic missile defense. Part of the the Aegis Weapon System, it uses a hit-to-kill kinetic kill vehicle to intercept ballistic missiles during the midcourse of their flight path. SM-3s are unique due to being the only Standard Missile designed to operate in...| Missile Threat
The AN/SPY-1 is an air search radar that provides search, detection, tracking, and discrimination data of air and surface targets.| Missile Threat
The Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) is a space-based system developed and operated by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) that detects and tracks ballistic missiles. This system is an experimental component of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and STSS serves as a complement to other U.S. space-based platforms and was intended to...| Missile Threat
The Sea-Based X-band Radar (SBX) is a unique radar housed on a decommissioned North Sea oil rig. The SBX produces very high resolution images of incoming threat clouds, which helps BMD interceptors discriminate between lethal objects and debris. The SBX has contributed to 12 tests of the GMD system and provided tracking and kill assessment for...| Missile Threat
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
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
