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<p class="text-body text-muted small">Improving the GMD system has been a top priority for MDA. However, the effort suffered a major setback after a new kill vehicle programme was terminated. That programme was replaced by the NGI. (MDA)</p>
<p>The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is requesting about USD3.076 billion to improve its strategic missile defence system, known as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), including funding to develop a new Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).</p>
<p>Last year, MDA received USD2.618 billion for strategic missile defence. That funding was meant for upgraded ground infrastructure and improved reliability of fire-control and kill vehicle software, added software for a selectable two- or three-stage rocket booster, and new boosters.</p>
<p>In September 2022, the MDA, with contractors Boeing and Raytheon, conducted a test launch of a GMD Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), flying a mock-up of the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), with a three-stage booster operating in a two-stage mode.</p>
<p>The test – in which the third stage was not ignited – demonstrated a new capability for the GBI, enabling it to release the kill vehicle earlier in flight. The MDA designates this new capability as “a 2-/3-Stage selectable GBI”.</p>
<p>In FY 2024, MDA requested USD903.6 million to “complete developing, testing, and fielding the Ground System 8 software build” that provides the 2-/3-stage selectable booster for the GBIs, “improves [target] discrimination, integrates [the forthcoming Long-Range Discrimination Radar] LRDR with [the GMD Fire Control System] GFC, improves cyber-security posture”, and more, the agency said in budget documents published on 13 March.</p>
<p>MDA also requested USD41.8 million for the GMD test programme, as flight test mission FTG-12 will demonstrate upgrades such as the 2-/3-stage selectable booster against “a threat representative intermediate-range ballistic missile”, MDA said.</p>
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