Missile Defense Agency
|
Missile Defense Agency |
|
|---|---|
 Missile Defense Agency emblem |
|
| Lineup | 2002 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Armed forces | United States Armed Forces |
| Armed forces | (comprehensive) |
| Branch of service | Missile research and development |
| Type | Agency |
| Insinuation | DoD |
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Director of the Missile Defense Agency | |
| Current commander |
VADM James D. Syring, USN |
The Missile Defense Agency ( MDA ; German: Raketenabwehramt ) is a department of the US Department of Defense . The MDA is primarily responsible for the development of a defense system against ballistic missiles on several levels, the so-called National Missile Defense .
Mission goal
The official website of the US Department of Defense said about the project:
- "The Missile Defense Agency's mission is to develop, test and prepare for deployment of a missile defense system. Using complementary interceptors, land-, sea-, air- and space-based sensors, and battle management command and control systems, the planned missile defense system will be able to engage all classes and ranges of ballistic missile threats. Our programmatic strategy is to develop, rigorously test, and continuously evaluate production, deployment and operational alternatives for the ballistic missile defense system. Missile defense systems being developed and tested by MDA are primarily based on hit-to-kill technology. It has been described as hitting a bullet with a bullet - a capability that has been successfully demonstrated in test after test. "
Translated:
- “The job of the Missile Defense Agency is to develop, test and prepare for the deployment of a missile defense system. By using complementary interception systems, land, sea, air and space-based sensors and command and control systems for the management of the battle, the proposed missile defense system will be able to counter the threats posed by all classes and ranges of ballistic missiles . The strategy of our program is to develop, thoroughly test and continuously review the production, deployment and operational alternatives of the ballistic missile defense system. The missile defense systems developed and tested by the MDA are based primarily on hit-to-kill technology. This can be described as the hitting of a ball with a ball - a skill that has been successfully demonstrated from test to test. "
The MDA divides its system into three categories: boost phase (launch phase), mid-course phase (flight phase) and terminal phase (approach phase), each of which corresponds to a different degree of threat during the flight of a ballistic missile. Each phase has advantages and disadvantages for a missile defense system, so that one wants to increase the effectiveness through a multi-layered defense concept.
Defense in the start phase
Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI)
An interception system based on kinetic energy . In December 2003, the MDA commissioned Northrop Grumman to develop and test such systems, which could also be used during the flight phase. The KEI is launched from a position not far from the launch position of the target missile; it is therefore less suitable for use against larger countries. It has to be fired very shortly after the start of the target and have a high speed (approx. 6 km / s).
Airborne laser
This is an airborne (based on Boeing YAL-1 ) laser system that can either deactivate the warhead itself or the rocket's drive system. With the latter version there is a risk of a "shortfall", i. H. the rocket could fall back to earth between the start and target point and there u. U. cause considerable damage.
Mid-course defense
Ground Based Midcourse Defense System (GMD)
An air defense system stationed on the ground for the middle flight phase: A ground-based air defense system consists of both a booster rocket and a so-called kinetic, exo-atmospheric kill vehicle (EKV).
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System (Aegis BMD)
A ballistic missile defense system: Consists of an SM-3 missile with a lightweight exo-atmospheric projectile (LEAP) with a kinetic warhead; should be launched from ships.
An important aspect in this phase is the distinction between actual warheads and dummies.
Defense in the re-entry phase
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
A defense system that is to be used during the last phase of the approach and is supposed to repel the enemy projectile by means of a collision (i.e. through the impact force) using its own rocket.
PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
A defense system similar to THAAD, with the difference that the enemy missile is supposed to be destroyed by an explosion.
Arrow Missile
A joint project between the US and Israel that is said to be able to intercept enemy missiles in the stratosphere .
Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS)
A joint project of the US Department of Defense, Germany and Italy to replace the outdated Patriot defense system.
Not all of the United States' allies approve of these plans. Canada announced in February 2005 that it did not want to participate in the United States' defense system against ballistic missiles. Due to the size and location of the country, this is of considerable strategic importance, so it is now not possible - as originally intended - to install appropriate defense systems of the NMD.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ www.mda.mil Leadership