As the interceptor flew toward the target, it received target data updates from the upgraded missile-warning radar at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. After flying into space, the interceptor released its exoatmospheric kill vehicle, which proceeded to track, intercept and destroy the target warhead.

The test, GMD's seventh intercept overall, was the second intercept with an operationally configured interceptor since September 2006.

"Today's successful test is the team's second intercept in less than 13 months and further demonstrates GMD's evolution to a robust and reliable capability for the warfighter," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.

"Team members are energized and focused as they continue to see the pivotal role they play in developing and deploying a missile defense system that protects the United States."

"With another intercept under our belts, we have even greater confidence that the GMD system, if called upon in a real-world scenario, will defend the nation against a limited ballistic missile attack," said Scott Fancher, Boeing vice president and program director for GMD.

The Boeing-led test was highly complex, involving a wide range of assets, including the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX). SBX, a powerful new sea-based sensor developed by Boeing, tracked the target missile to prepare for the next GMD flight test, which will see SBX provide target updates to an in-flight interceptor for the first time.

"Flight tests are complex; they involve about 1,000 government and contractor personnel and integrate over 50 assets worldwide," said Norm Tew, Boeing director of weapon systems integration for GMD. "Our government and industry partners worked together as one team to make this exercise a successful reality."

GMD defends the nation against a limited number of long-range ballistic missiles, with interceptors deployed in underground silos at Vandenberg and Ft. Greely, Alaska.

An integral element of the global ballistic missile defense system, GMD also consists of radars, other sensors, command-and-control facilities, communications terminals and a 20,000-mile fiber optic communications network. The U.S. government has announced plans to extend this capability to Europe.

Boeing is the prime contractor for GMD, the central element of the Missile Defense Agency's overall layered ballistic missile defense architecture. Industry partners include Raytheon, Orbital Sciences Corp., and Northrop Grumman.

related report
Northrop Grumman Gets The Buttons Working Right
Huntsville AL (SPX) Sep 28, 2007 Northrop Grumman played a key role in today's successful intercept test of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The company-developed fire control and launch control equipment software effectively launched the system's ground-based interceptor and helped orchestrate the overall engagement sequence.

Northrop Grumman is responsible for designing and deploying key products for the GMD system, including the GMD Fire Control (GFC), In-flight Interceptor Communications System Data Terminal (IDT), Communications Network Equipment, Network System Manager, and Command Launch Equipment (CLE) software. All are under contract to the GMD prime contractor, The Boeing Company.

"I am extremely proud of our team's successful support to this highly critical GMD flight test," said Frank Moore, vice president and general manager of Missile Defense Division for Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector.

"Our GMD fire control and launch control products have continually performed on-cost and on-schedule since beginning this development effort more than 10 years ago. Our entire Northrop Grumman missile defense team is committed to providing the best and brightest to support MDA as they continue to deploy an integrated missile defense capability to defend our nation, its allies and deployed forces."

The GMD flight test, conducted by The Boeing Company and the U.S. MDA, involved launching a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base against a target missile threat fired from a launch complex in Kodiak, Alaska.

The primary objective of the test was to engage the target based on radar inputs from the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) at Beale Air Force Base and intercept the target with the exoatmospheric kill vehicle. Successfully exercising the fire control and launch operations products were critical to the test's success.

The GFC products orchestrate the components of the GMD element and provide critical targeting data that guide ground-based interceptors until their on-board sensors acquire their targets. The system's software coordinates sensor and interceptor operations during flight and provides vital decision-support information to combatant commanders.

The CLE software, working in conjunction with the GFC, controls the interceptor while on the ground, computes the detailed intercept trajectory and provides it to the interceptor, and at the appropriate time, commands the interceptor's ignition and launch.

Northrop Grumman personnel in Huntsville, Ala., develop the GMD products, with additional development sites in Colorado Springs, Colo., Melbourne, Fla., and Anaheim, Calif. More than 600 people are employed on this project at these four locations.

Northrop Grumman's GFC products have performed successfully in every GMD flight test to date and were recognized in 2003 and 2005 with a Capability Maturity Model Integration level 5 rating from the Software Engineering Institute for best practices in software development and systems engineering.

In addition, Northrop Grumman supported the test through its prime contractor role at the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center (MDIOC) in Colorado Springs, providing engineering and communications expertise that helped the Mission Control Center Facility and the NORTHCOM Command and Control Battle Management and Communication system (C2BMC) execute the mission. Northrop Grumman engineers also continuously monitored all test execution stages to assess the progress and success of the GMD flight test.

For more than 12 years, Northrop Grumman has served as the prime contractor at the MDIOC, serving as the principal agent to MDA for developing, integrating, and implementing system level aspects of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).

related report
Raytheon Missile Defense Systems Key in Successful Ballistic Missile Intercept in Space
Raytheon components built under contract to The Boeing Company, the prime contractor for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, played key roles in the destruction of a ballistic missile target during GMD's latest successful flight test conducted Sept. 28 by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

The Raytheon-built Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) intercepted the ballistic missile target in space over the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Raytheon-developed Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., successfully tracked the target system for approximately 15 minutes during its flight downrange to the intercept point several hundred miles west of California. The Raytheon-developed X-Band Radar (XBR), the primary payload of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX), actively participated in this test by tracking, discriminating and assessing the target.

While in flight, the EKV received target updates from the In-Flight Interceptor Communication System and performed a star shot to calibrate its own position. The EKV observed the target complex with its advanced multi- color infrared seeker and successfully selected the target from other objects in space. During the end game, as the target grew in the seeker's field of view, the EKV selected the aimpoint and maneuvered for a direct, lethal hit.

As the primary ground-based sensor for this mission, the UEWR successfully acquired, tracked and classified the target system, providing critical targeting data to the system under test. The UEWR achieved all mission objectives as it continues its flawless support to GMD flight tests and path to Air Force operational acceptance.

Positioned in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the XBR initiated track on the target complex and collected valuable data, which will be used to hone algorithms for future flight tests. The radar achieved all mission objectives. This test marks the third successful mission that the Sea-Based XBR has participated in since last September.

"This highly successful test of the GMD system once again demonstrates Raytheon's systems performance and reliability," said Louise Francesconi, Raytheon Missile Systems president. "The test clearly demonstrates the maturity of our technology and our ability to provide this critical capability to the nation."

"The XBR and UEWR demonstrated exceptional performance in this critical test of U.S. missile defense capability," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National and Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "This latest exercise confirms the radars' ability to gather information necessary to support an intercept."

The test marked the second time an operationally configured ground-based interceptor was launched from an operational GMD site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The target was launched from Kodiak, Alaska.

Designated Flight Test Ground-based Midcourse Defense-03a (FTG-03a), the test included a planned intercept of the target as one of its objectives. Other objectives included the EKV's ability to successfully detect, track, discriminate a target in space and communicate with ground-based sensors, and included participation of the SBX in the test.

This test again demonstrated the system's capability to launch a ground- based interceptor and perform EKV separation and delivery of the EKV to the desired point in space and time.

Raytheon is a major subcontractor to The Boeing Company, the prime contractor for the GMD program, providing the EKV, UEWRs and the XBR.

Continuing the Raytheon heritage with UHF phased array radars, the Beale UEWR program upgrades existing PAVE PAWS and Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radars by adding missile defense capabilities while retaining missile warning and space surveillance missions. As key sensors for the Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), UEWR and SBX provide midcourse target detection, tracking, and assessment for the GMD portion of the BMDS to protect the U.S. from ballistic missile attacks.

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