Description

This research investigates the current status of the United States missile defense initiative. Many of the "Star Wars" aspects of the programs have been replaced by more readily achievable goals. The Navy's Standard Missile-3 has become one of the "stars" of the current efforts, as has the Army's Patriot-based PAC-3 missile. These known technologies have been enhanced and coupled with highly capable radar systems based on the Aegis and AN/TPY-2 radar. While a significant RDT&E effort will continue on the more exotic forms of missile defense, these will form the basis of the US missile defense for the immediately foreseeable future. This research looks at the programs, the funding, the competitors and the likely future of the programs.