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U.S. DoD Missile Defense
Frost & Sullivan, Dec 2011, Pages: 61
The Maturing of Star Wars
This research investigates the current status of the United States missile defense initiative. Many of the 'Star Wars' aspects of the programs have been replaced by more readily achievable goals. The Navy's Standard Missile-3 has become one of the 'stars' of the current efforts, as has the Army's Patriot-based PAC-3 missile. These known technologies have been enhanced and coupled with highly capable radar systems based on the Aegis and AN/TPY-2 radar. While a significant RDT&E effort will continue on the more exotic forms of missile defense, these will form the basis of the US missile defense for the immediately foreseeable future.
This research looks at the programs, the funding, the competitors and the likely future of the programs.
Concerns Over Rogue States Increase the Desire for Defense from Ballistic Missiles
- Iran and North Korea have both been developing a nuclear capability and testing progressively longer-range ballistic missiles.
- Additional countries are developing or seeking nuclear capability, including Myanmar.
- Unlike the anti-ballistic missile shield proposed during the 1980s, the nature of these rogue states creates a need for mobile, theater-based defenses.
Successful Application of Existing Air Defense Systems to the Ballistic Missile Defense Role has Made Solutions More Readily Achievable
- Patriot was used with some success against theater ballistic missiles during Operation Desert Storm. As a result of some specific failures of those engagements, the Patriot system has received several key upgrades.
- The U.S. Navy also recognized that its Aegis-equipped systems combined with its Standard missile was counter-ballistic-missile capable. This was successfully demonstrated against a de-orbiting satellite. The Navy has also made significant upgrades to the system.
Technological Progress has Made Some “Exotic” Solutions Achievable
- The original vision for the Ballistic Missile Defense Initiative included some technology thatwasn’t achievable at the time of initial study, such as exo-atmospheric high-energyweapons. Some of it is not achievable today, but portions of the program were onlystretches of existing technology. Many of those “stretches” are now achievable.
- Lessons learned from other programs have translated into advances in the ballistic missildefense technology.
- Advances in computing power and size have created opportunities for seeking andintercept capability.
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