Ballistic Missile Defense Midcourse Defense Segment

The Ballistic Missile Defense Midcourse Defense Segment enables the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Weapon System (GWS) to provide the combatant commands, including United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), with a continuously available (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year) Homeland Defense Weapon System. The GWS contributes to the Missile Defense System by acquiring, developing, demonstrating, deploying, and sustaining an operational Weapon System with Ground Based Interceptors, development of a GWS with a mixed-fleet of Ground Based Interceptors and Next Generation Interceptors, improved Warfighter capabilities, and Interceptor Fleet Management. The GWS leverages integration of Missile Defense sensors from across the globe to enable the interceptors to deliver kill vehicles to counter allocated threats in space during the midcourse phase of the threat's ballistic trajectory. The Ground Systems consist of the GFC, GCN / GWS Network Infrastructure (GNI), IDT, and GSS. The GFC consists of two (2) GFC nodes at Fort Greely, Alaska (FGA) and at the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The GFC plans midcourse engagements and provides the human-in-control interface to the Warfighter. As a critical component of Ground Systems, the GFC supports decision-making and command execution. The GCN is the communications network for the GWS and network connection to the Missile Defense System. The GNI serves as a common secure platform improving real-time cyber integration and the ability to detect and respond to cyber events. The IDTs are located at FGA (2); Vandenberg Space Force Base, California (VSFB) (2); Eareckson Air Station, Alaska (1); and Fort Drum, New York (1). The IDTs provide secure communications from the GFC to the in-flight interceptors. The GSS consists of the Launch Support System and Missile Field / Launch Site Components located at FGA and VSFB and provides the hardware and software interfaces between the GFC and the interceptors. The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Program provides USNORTHCOM with a solution that is lethal across the specified threat space, upgradeable to address future and advancing threats, and fully integrated into the Missile Defense System as demonstrated through flight and ground testing.

The GMD Cyber Operations project provides cybersecurity and cyber resiliency to maintain and operate all mission and mission support systems. The GMD systems must maintain Network and System Certification and Accreditation for operation on all GMD networks and nodes. Cybersecurity and Cyber Resiliency efforts harden the GMD system against a cyber-attack and reduces system vulnerabilities. The strategy implements cybersecurity and cyber resiliency systems throughout the lifecycle to flow requirements to the Ground Based Interceptor, Next Generation Interceptor, and GMD Weapon System to influence system development. In addition, Cybersecurity and Cyber Resiliency efforts include developmental cyber testing and assessments to reduce cyber vulnerabilities prior to fielding.

PWS contains non-headquarters management costs in support of Missile Defense Agency (MDA) functions and activities across the entire Missile Defense System. These functions include Government Civilians and Contract Support Services. This effort provides integrity and oversight of the Missile Defense System as well as supports MDA in the development and evaluation of technologies that will respond to the changing threat. Additionally, PWS includes personnel to support global deployments performing deployment site preparation and activation, and provides facility capabilities for MDA Executing Agent locations worldwide. Other MDA wide costs include: physical and technical security; civilian drug testing; audit readiness; the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program; legal services and settlements; travel and agency training; office, equipment, vehicle, and warehouse leases; utilities and base operations across multiple geographic locations; commercial and ancillary facility services; management of all facility aspects regardless of lifecycle stage; supplies and maintenance; compliance with statutory environmental requirements; data and unified communications support; materiel and readiness and central property management of equipment; Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM) program (formerly Real Property Maintenance) to keep the Department's inventory of facilities in good working order; and similar operating expenses. PWS is allocated on a pro-rata basis across most Agency PEs, and, therefore, fluctuates per PE by FY based on the total Agency budget in that FY.