| The purpose of the Department of Defense's
Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program is to develop and potentially
deploy an efficient, effective system that detects, tracks and destroys
incoming missiles before they enter our atmosphere. The program is currently
in its development phase.
Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) is the
centerpiece of the proposed layered missile defense architecture.
It is designed to address the growing threat from ballistic missiles in
the midcourse phase of flight. Formerly known as the National Missile
Defense program, GMD is poised to provide an initial missile defense capability
for the U.S. by September 30, 2004. As announced in December 2002,
the initial capabilities planned for 2004-05 will include up to 20 ground-based
interceptors located at Ft.
Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg
Air Force Base, California. This initial capability could be
expanded to include additional interceptors and sensors in Alaska, elsewhere
in the U.S., and overseas.
GMD has been in development since 1998
and is based on technologies pioneered by the Missile
Defense Agency's predecessors in the 1980's and 1990's. It is currently
a research and development program incorporating extensive ground and flight
tests to determine system performance against long-range ballistic missile
targets. |
