Trump to expand U.S. missile defences

President Donald Trump is calling for a new defence strategy to better protect the U.S. against potential adversaries who are developing and fielding a much more expansive range of advanced offensive missiles


CURRENT U.S. HOMELAND DEFENCE NETWORK

Space-based sensors

U.S.

Cobra Dane, Shemya Island, Alaska

AN/TPY-2, Japan

Guam (U.S.)

Sea-based X-band radar

UEWR Beale, California

UEWR Clear, Alaska

Fort Greely, Alaska

Vandenberg, California

UEWR Thule, Greenland

UEWR Cape Cod, Mass.

UEWR Fylingdales, UK

AN/TPY-2, Turkey

Radar site

GMD interceptors

THAAD missiles

Aegis ballistic missile defence ships (SM-3)

UEWR = Upgraded Early Warning Radar 

AN/TPY = Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance


NEW STRATEGIES FOR U.S. MISSILE DEFENCE

Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD): System designed to protect U.S. from intercontinental
ballistic missile (ICBM) attack – proposed improvements include deploying 20 new ground-based
interceptors in Alaska

Standard Missile-3 (SM-3)
Enhancements to U.S. Navy’s main missile interceptor could give it ability to defeat enemy ICBMs

Aegis Ashore: Test facility in Hawaii could become fully operational to strengthen defence of Pacific island state against North Korean missile attack

Boost-phase defence: Research into shooting down enemy missiles when they are most vulnerable – just after launch – using laser-armed aerial drones or F-35 fighter jets

Space-based defence layer
Possibility of new warning sensors and missile interceptors similar to those envisioned during 1980s “Star Wars” programme of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan 

Other defence systems: Existing Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) and shipborne SM-3 missiles could be relocated to counter rising threats


Sources: AP, Reuters, U.S. Department of Defence 
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