U.S. carries out first ICBM intercept test

The Pentagon’s first attempt to shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile is being seen as a test to counter the threat from North Korea



ANATOMY OF AN INTERCEPT GROUND-BASED MIDCOURSE DEFENSE (GMD)

1 Missile launch
Hostile ICBM-like missile launched from Kwajalein Atoll

2 Launch detection
Satellites use infrared detectors to sense ICBM heat plumes during boost phase

3 Missile releases warhead and decoys (threat cloud)

4 Tracking Radar
Ground-based radar on Shemya Island tracks threat cloud

5 Interceptor: Multi-stage, solid fuel booster launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Rocket carries “Kill Vehicle” towards target’s predicted location in space

6 X-band Radar
Sea-based radar uses narrow beam electromagnetic pulses to determine which object is warhead

7 Kill Vehicle separates from interceptor

8 Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV)
Once released, EKV uses on-board sensors to steer into path of warhead, destroying it by
force of impact


Pentagon to deploy 8 more interceptors in Alaska, bringing total to 44 nationwide by end of 2017


Satellite sensor

NORTH KOREA

CHINA

JAPAN

Warhead

RUSSIA

PACIFIC OCEAN

U.S.

ALASKA

Fort Greely

CANADA

UNITED STATES

MEXICO

Ground-Based Interceptor


Sources: Boeing, Global Security, Union of Concerned Scientists

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