Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors

Mission — Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors source

The Missile Defense System network of layered sensors provides essential situational awareness and fire control data for the command and control of Missile Defense System weapon systems, such as Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). The suite of remote ground-based sensors provides early warning, midcourse, and terminal missile defense threat data. This data enables layered detection and tracking of missile targets, providing fire-control quality position, velocity, and discrimination data through GMD Fire Control, or Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC). Overlapping coverage of geographically diverse sensors provides improved threat track data, reduces the impact of the loss of any one sensor, and reduces the potential impact of countermeasures. The extended coverage and accuracy provided by a network of layered sensors increases the defensive footprint and reduces the number of target engagements required, thereby conserving interceptor inventory and maintaining a high probability of successful engagement. Networked forward-based sensors enable C2BMC to pair the best sensor coverage with the best available weapon system to provide the most effective defense against missile threats. Threat discrimination improvements will enhance Missile Defense System effectiveness against the evolving adversary threat. The Missile Defense System Sensors Program contributes to regional and homeland missile defense by developing, delivering, and deploying/redeploying Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control-2 (AN/TPY-2) radars for operations or tests. AN/TPY-2 radars can be configured to operate as either a THAAD Fire Unit Radar (terminal mode) or a Forward-Based Radar. These radars are transportable and add flexibility to respond to geographical changes in threats. Radars provide early warning tracking and discrimination data through all phases of missile flight. Through the Missile Defense System C2BMC and coalition data links, the AN/TPY-2 provides fire control data to enable remote Standard Missile-3 engagements by Aegis BMD and to cue deployed THAAD and United States (U.S.) and partner Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target batteries. The Missile Defense System sensor network includes the U.S. Space Force (USSF) COBRA DANE (CD) Radar at Eareckson Air Station, AK, and the USSF Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWRs) at Beale Air Force Base, CA; Cape Cod Space Force Station (SFS), MA; Clear SFS, AK; Royal Air Force Fylingdales, United Kingdom; and Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, for defense of the homeland. This program element supports sensors Modeling and Simulation development of digital and hardware-in-the-loop models to support Integrated Master Test Plan events and testing for Missile Defense System assessments of the Long Range Discrimination Radar, AN/TPY-2, Sea-Based X-Band, UEWR, and CD radar. This program element also supports the planning and deployment of persistent radars. Cyber Operations sustain the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Controls Validation Testing activities, analysis of validation results, risk assessments, reviews of plans of action and milestones, and alignment and integration to the Tier 2 Cybersecurity Service Provider for the Ground Sensors mission and support systems. Cyber Operations supports the execution of lab-based developmental cyber testing (Baseline Assessment Technical Testing, Cooperative Vulnerability Identification and Adversarial Cybersecurity Developmental Test and Evaluation) for all major mission system software version releases. These efforts position Ground Sensor assets to complete the transition to National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 requirements (e.g. RMF 2.0) and enhance software supply chain security by developing and maintaining the software bill of materials for all developed and delivered Ground Sensors mission and support software as directed in the President's Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity dated May 12, 2021. Rapidly evolving rogue and peer missile threats have led to a change in national defense policy. The President's January 27, 2025, Executive Order established a goal of protecting the U.S. citizens, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and securing second-strike capability against missile attack from any adversary. The Missile Defense Agency is responding with speed and intensity to deliver next-generation missile defenses to protect the U.S. against ballistic, hypersonic, cruise, and other advanced missile threats. This program submission reflects changes necessary to meet this evolving mission space.

Mission — Cyber Operations source

Sustain the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 8510.01 Risk Management Framework (RMF) for Department of Defense (DoD) Information Technology (IT) requirement for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and conduct Security Control Assessments (SCA) activities, analysis of validation results, risk assessments, and reviews of proposed Program Manager/Information System Security Manager (PM/ISSM) Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for MDA Ground Sensors mission and support systems. It also includes support for external cybersecurity assessments and penetration testing of the Ground Sensors mission systems, both in laboratory developmental testing and during ground test activities, in accordance with Director, Operational Test and Evaluation directives and the Integrated Master Test Plan. It maintains the Assessment and Authorization (A&A) data repository, capturing the RMF documentation (artifacts, validation results, Cybersecurity Risk Assessment results, cybersecurity scorecard, and Authorizing Official (AO) authorization decisions) and POA&M for all MDA information systems. It positions Ground Sensors assets to complete the transition to National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 requirements (i.e. RMF 2.0) once DoD requirements and timelines are finalized. This project supports aligning, developing, and implementing an integrated Tier 2 Cyber Security Service Provider (CSSP) capability on the Ground Sensors mission systems under the DoD Cybersecurity Discipline Implementation Plan and DoDI 8530.01 Cybersecurity Activities Support to DoD Information Network Operations. Provides the monitoring, prioritization, and tracking of Cybersecurity mitigation detailed in Information Technology security POA&Ms. The activities include preparation of A&A documentation and accreditation recommendations to the MDA Senior Information Security Officer/SCA and AO. Independent Verification and Validation team actions ensure the availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of the MDA mission, test, and administrative systems. These activities are necessary to comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act.

Mission — BMDS Radars source

The Missile Defense System Radars project includes developing future Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control-2 (AN/TPY-2), U.S. Space Force (USSF) COBRA DANE (CD), Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), Sea Based X-Band (SBX), and USSF Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWR) capabilities through system engineering, software development, and testing support. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) efforts include enhanced sensor models, development of Radio Frequency scene generators, integration of simulations into the Missile Defense System M&S architecture, and Verification, Validation, and Certification of radar models. This project also funds participation and support for Missile Defense System ground and flight test campaigns and Warfighter games and exercises. This project provides the development of discrimination advanced algorithms for Missile Defense System radars to counter evolving threats. The discrimination improvement effort will develop and field integrated element capabilities to improve the Missile Defense System's ability to identify lethal and non-lethal objects. This project will continue the development of discrimination improvement midterm design and test support for Missile Defense System radars and far-term trade analysis and planning.

Mission — Program-Wide Support source

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; therefore, fluctuates per PE by FY based on the total Agency budget in that FY.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (6)