Ground Based Interceptor (GBI)
Overview
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Uses an array of sensors, radars,
and ground-based interceptors that are capable of shooting down
long-range ballistic missiles during the midcourse phase of flight.
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Directly
hits the incoming missile by ramming the warhead with a closing speed
of approximately 15,000 miles per hour to destroy it. This is called
“hit-to-kill� technology and has been proven to work in a number of
flight tests.
Details
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense is composed of three main components:
sensors, ground-based interceptors, and fire control and communications.
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Sensors: Ground-Based Midcourse
Defense uses a variety of sensors and radars to obtain information on
missile launches and to track, discriminate, and target an incoming
warhead. This information is provided to the Ground-Based Interceptor
before launch and during flight to help it find the incoming ballistic
missile and close with it.
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Ground-Based
Interceptor: A Ground-Based Interceptor is made up of a three-stage,
solid fuel booster and an exoatmospheric kill vehicle. When launched,
the booster missile carries the kill vehicle toward the target’s
predicted location in space. Once released from the booster, the 152
pound kill vehicle uses data received in-flight from ground-based
radars and its own on-board sensors to close with and destroy the
target using only the force of the impact.
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Fire
Control and Communications: This is the central nervous system of the
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense element. It connects all of the
hardware, software and communications systems necessary for planning,
tasking and controlling Ground-Based Midcourse Defense.
Development
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Interceptor missiles are emplaced
at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. More are
planned to be emplaced in 2006.
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Ground-Based Midcourse Defense fire control centers have been established in Colorado and Alaska.
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Several
existing early warning radars located around the world, including one
on Shemya Island in the Alaskan Aleutian chain, have been upgraded to
support flight tests and to provide tracking information in the event
of a hostile missile attack.
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Also
nearing completion is a powerful, mobile Sea-based X-Band radar that is
scheduled to be fully integrated into the Ballistic Missile Defense
System in 2006.
Specifications
Data for Orbital Booster Vehicle:
Propulsion
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1st stage: Alliant Tech Orion 50SXLG solid-fueled rocket; 441 kN (99000 lb)
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2nd stage: Alliant Tech Orion 50XL solid-fueled rocket; 153 kN (34500 lb)
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3rd stage: Alliant Tech Orion 38 solid-fueled rocket; 32 kN (7200 lb)
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Warhead EKV "hit-to-kill" vehicle