Ground Based Midcourse

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.