Hypersonic Defense

Mission— Hypersonic Defense

Strategic competitors and both homeland and regional adversaries are heavily investing in offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities, and currently have operational hypersonic strike and defensive systems deployed. These are challenging realities of the emerging missile threat environment that United States (U.S.) Missile Defense policy, strategy, and capabilities must address. These adversaries continue to expand the capability and capacity of their offensive and defensive hypersonic missile inventories for both strategic and regional hypersonic missiles. Near Peer/Peer nations have also demonstrated hypersonic missiles in recent flight tests. The Hypersonic Defense program element includes: execution of the systems engineering activities; upgrade of existing systems; investment in new technologies; and development of new regional defensive capabilities and maturation for delivery in 2032. The Missile Defense Agency's Hypersonic Missile Defense strategy includes leveraging existing systems, delivering an initial regional layered defense capability, and increasing defense capabilities in the future. Activities enabling this strategy are as follows: - Develop a regional Glide Phase Interceptor capability to engage hypersonic threats during the glide phase of flight and other threats in multi-mission areas. The Preliminary Design Review is planned in FY 2028, Kill Vehicle (KV) demonstration in 2029 and delivery of 12 tactical missiles in 2032. - Conduct early analysis and requirement to integrate into Golden Dome communications architecture. - Integrate existing overhead sensors such as the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, as well as new technologies. - Execute systems engineering for Hypersonic Defense including architecture analysis, technology prioritization, requirements development, planning and analysis. - Partner with the Services and other agencies to leverage work on common technologies, test infrastructure, weapon development, testing, and war-gaming. - Cooperatively develop the Glide Phase Interceptor with Japan. 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— Program Wide Support

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 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; 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 fiscal year based on the total Agency budget in that fiscal year.

Mission— Hypersonic Defense

Strategic competitors and both homeland and regional adversaries are heavily investing in hypersonics, both offense and defense, and currently have operational hypersonic strike and defensive systems deployed. These are challenging realities of the emerging missile threat environment that United States Missile Defense policy, strategy, and capabilities must address. These adversaries continue to expand the capability and capacity of their offensive and defensive hypersonic missile inventories for both strategic and regional hypersonic missiles. Near Peer/Peer nations have also demonstrated hypersonic missiles in flight tests. The HD program element includes executing systems engineering activities, upgrading existing systems, investing in new technologies and maturation, and developing new regional defensive capabilities. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) counter hypersonic threats strategy includes leveraging existing systems, delivering an initial regional layered defense capability, and increasing defense capabilities in the future. Activities enabling this strategy are the following: - Develop a regional Glide Phase Intercept capability to engage hypersonic threats during the glide phase of flight and other threats of multi-mission areas. - Develop requirements to integrate into Golden Dome communication architecture. - Execute systems engineering for HD, including architecture analysis, technology prioritization, requirements development, planning, and analysis. - Partner with the Services and other agencies to leverage work on common technologies, test infrastructure, weapon development, testing, and war-gaming. - Cooperatively develop the Glide Phase Interceptor with Japan.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)