The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is set to develop cost-effective programmes to address rising threats from North Korea and Iran.
MDA director James D. Syring has testified before the Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee on the agency’s $7.5bn fiscal year 2017 budget request.
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During the procedure, Syring highlighted that funding was required for demonstrations and prototypes of new technologies.
Following the development, MDA is to create, test and deploy a system designed to counter ballistic missile threats.
The new ballistic missile defence (BMD) system will feature networked sensors, ground and sea-based radars and interceptor missiles, and a command and control, battle management and communications network.
The BMD is designed to destroy incoming missiles and warheads before they reach their targets.
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By GlobalDataAdditionally, MDA plans to develop a long-range discrimination radar (LRDR) and a new vehicle by 2020.
MDA will begin working on the construction of the LRDR in 2017 at Alaska.
Syring said: "Our system today is designed to counter that if (North Korea) tests and then improves the capability to make this even more complex in the future with decoys and countermeasures.
"We need the radar in Alaska to help defeat that threat."
The MDA’s new vehicle will feature advanced in-flight communication capabilities and improved combatant commanders’ situational awareness through hit and kill assessment messages.
Image: Overview of the ballistic missile defence system. Photo: courtesy of Defense Department graphic.
