Space

Comprehensive Missile Defense Ground Test Successfully Completed

07-NEWS-0052
14 November 2007

Air Force Lieutenant General Henry “Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion today of the most comprehensive Distributed Ground Test (GTD-02) conducted by the Agency to date. GTD-02 tested operational and fielded Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) elements utilizing existing operational networks and communications. The two-week test was completed on November 10, and produced sufficient data to perform a detailed analysis and evaluation of BMDS capabilities.

GTD-02 was an operationally realistic ground test exercising the entire BMDS using “real world” scenarios designed to demonstrate and assess overall system performance. The test also provided opportunity for warfighters from Combatant Commands on control consoles at participating element sites to evaluate tactics, techniques and procedures.

The test demonstrated strategic, regional, and theater BMDS capabilities using scenarios containing threats emanating from multiple geographic regions. Participating elements included Aegis ships in Long Range Surveillance and Tracking and Standard Missile-3 engagement configurations; a Forward Based X-Band Radar; Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications nodes at U.S. Northern, Pacific, and Strategic Commands; the Space-Based Infrared System; Joint Tactical Ground Station; PATRIOT; and Ground-Based Midcourse Defense to include the Cobra Dane Radar, Sea-Based X-Band Radar, and two Upgraded Early Warning Radars. Test Control was exercised from Schriever AFB, Colorado.

This test was the culminating event of the GT-02 Ground Test Campaign conducted over the past several months. Ground Test Campaigns are a series of test events designed to showcase emerging BMDS capabilities in Focused Ground Tests, demonstrate full system-capabilities in lab-based Integrated Ground Tests, and conclude by confirming capabilities in Distributed Ground Tests employing operational assets.

News media point of contact is Rick Lehner, Missile Defense Agency, at (703) 697-8997 or richard.lehner@mda.mil