| Ground-Based Interceptor | |
|---|---|
 A Ground-Based Interceptor loaded into a silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, in July 2004 | |
| Type | Anti-ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States Army |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Orbital Sciences Corporation, Raytheon, Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 21,600 kg [1] |
| Length | 16.61 m [1] |
| Diameter | 1.28 m [1] |
|
| |
| Propellant | solid-fuel |
The Ground-Based Interceptor is the anti-ballistic missile component of the United States' Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. This interceptor is made up of a boost vehicle, constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and an Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, built by Raytheon. Integration of these is performed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security.[2]
The boost vehicle uses the solid-fuel rocket upper stages of the Taurus launcher.[3] The interceptor version deployed in the U.S. has three stages. A two-stage version was successfully tested in 2010 for use in Europe's NATO missile defence as a backup option to the preferred Aegis System Standard Missile 3.[4]
As of 2013, 26 interceptors were deployed at Fort Greely, Alaska, with an increase to 40 planned by 2017.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jim O'Halloran (15 Jan 2014). Jane's Weapons 2014/2015: Strategic. Jane's Information Group. p. 243. ISBN 978-0710631077. http://cdn.ihs.com/Janes/Sample-content-IHS-Janes-Weapons-Strategic.pdf.
- ↑ "Fact sheet: GMD Boost Vehicle". Orbital Sciences Corporation. http://www.orbital.com/launchsystems/publications/gmd_factsheet.pdf.
- ↑ William Graham (27 June 2013). "Orbital’s Pegasus XL successfully lofts IRIS spacecraft". NASA. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/orbital-pegasus-launch-iris-spacecraft/. "The Orbital Boost Vehicle, developed for the US military’s Ground Based Interceptor program, uses the upper stages of the Taurus"
- ↑ Turner Brinton (June 7, 2010). "Two-Stage Interceptor Missile Succeeds in First Flight Test". Space News. http://spacenews.com/two-stage-interceptor-missile-succeeds-first-flight-test/. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Greely Missile-Defense Base Prepares For More Interceptors". Alaska Public Media. 18 December 2013. http://www.alaskapublic.org/2013/12/18/greely-missile-defense-base-prepares-for-more-interceptors/.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Ground-Based Interceptor and the edit history here.